"No one has been negatively affected by his execution" is an odd way to justify one. And one that is hard to proof for that matter. Either way, more important is the question if any of the victims families feel better since McVeigh got killed. Doubtful. But even if that's the case, it's not a country's job to take revenge on anyone. It's an outdated and wrong concept. Punishment is about keeping the culprit from doing the same again and taking his freedom, that's it. That's what Norway does now and therefore keeps the higher ground.
I don't use the "negatively affected" notion to justify and/or argue in favor of execution. I use it because that's an argument I've heard as reasoning against execution.
Fair enough
Regarding the ability to prove: I agree completely.
Regarding the victim's families' feelings: You say it's doubtful they feel any better. I don't know for sure, but my guess is that some do and some don't. But I'm not sure why you think that's the more important question.
You write: " . . . it's not a country's job to take revenge on anyone." Firstly, that implies it is someone's job. Tell me whose it is. Secondly, I disagree. Imprisonment is a form of revenge. Revenge does not have to be tit for tat. One of government's specific jobs is to catch and punish, by imprisonment or otherwise, those who break the laws of the society. We want governemnt to do that, or else it's anarchy--somewhat like the Old West in the U.S.
Maybe I phrased this not very well. Of course it is the prosecution's, state's, country's job to make sure someone gets punished for horrible things they did. I just wanted to stress the fact that I think it should not be about revenge but punishment, if that makes any sense and if the distinction between those two terms is the same for others as it is in my head.
You say punishment is about keeping the culprit from doing the same and taking his freedom. Execution accomplishes those two things. Unless you think of death as a different kind of freedom, I suppose.
The odd thing about death is, we don't know how bad it is, do we? Muslim terrorists freely choose it, certain they will get rewards in their afterlife. Hollywood villains die in the end because it's considered the ultimate punishment to lose your life when you did horrible things. They get what they did to others. I don't think that's how a legal system should work, though. See below.
I honestly don't understand the last bit. Please explain. How does Norway "keep the higher ground" by putting him in prison for the rest of his life as opposed to executing him?
By being the "better person", so to say. Breivik took lives. Norway will not take his, because it is always wrong to do so, whether you are an extremist or the institution that has to come up with the punishment for him. I am not a very religious person but I still think the holding the other cheek thing is a way better teaching than the taking of lives as revenge.
*MySmiley*
You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.
You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.
Norway killer Anders Breivik ruled sane, given 21-year prison term
- 24/08/2012 11:35:06 AM
1285 Views
Only 21 years? Weaksauce. *NM*
- 24/08/2012 02:35:56 PM
246 Views
It can be extended if they think he's still a danger. *NM*
- 24/08/2012 03:24:41 PM
235 Views
How do they decide that?
- 24/08/2012 04:22:31 PM
465 Views
[Norway, 20 years from now]
- 24/08/2012 04:42:45 PM
682 Views
OR
- 24/08/2012 04:54:39 PM
534 Views
Pretty sure mine's more futuristically accurate. *NM*
- 24/08/2012 05:23:33 PM
251 Views
Your extensive experience with forensic psychology is really shining through here. *NM*
- 25/08/2012 11:08:28 AM
244 Views
Is it that simple?
- 24/08/2012 05:04:34 PM
632 Views
Actually, in the sentence declared...
- 24/08/2012 05:10:44 PM
552 Views
If that's so . . .
- 24/08/2012 05:19:51 PM
667 Views
Well, obviously, it's in case he reforms
- 24/08/2012 08:02:48 PM
483 Views
That's where the system goes wrong though.
- 24/08/2012 08:46:49 PM
520 Views
There is a point to keep him locked up. Actually, 77 points.
- 25/08/2012 06:12:36 PM
555 Views
I agree.
- 25/08/2012 06:26:34 PM
568 Views
From what I can tell they do it that way to impose a minimum sentence without parole.
- 26/08/2012 01:28:21 AM
662 Views
really? I hate the media
- 24/08/2012 09:22:03 PM
508 Views
Jonte is right about forvaring, but it is so foreign to us media overlooking it is hardly surprising
- 26/08/2012 01:16:17 AM
1763 Views
LOL, my wife and I have nearly given up on an English translation of "forvaring."
- 26/08/2012 12:50:19 AM
628 Views
Can you give some version of it?
- 26/08/2012 01:38:07 AM
506 Views
Did, in my response to rt.
- 26/08/2012 01:55:05 AM
486 Views
Timothy McVeigh was executed.
- 24/08/2012 05:13:49 PM
585 Views
I never did understand the point of this trial
- 24/08/2012 06:27:57 PM
651 Views
Well, wouldn't the answer be that nobody goes to any sort of institution w/o first
- 24/08/2012 06:39:56 PM
469 Views
I mostly agree with you.
- 24/08/2012 06:48:04 PM
549 Views
What people think.
- 25/08/2012 07:03:02 PM
502 Views
hm
- 25/08/2012 07:34:05 PM
617 Views
So far, it looks like I am wrong
- 25/08/2012 09:28:09 PM
569 Views
I don't know if being a sociopath is the same as being insane.
- 25/08/2012 09:30:47 PM
508 Views
Which is the biggest reason I probably need to be more hip to the definitions.
- 25/08/2012 09:52:19 PM
498 Views
Yeah, exactly. That kinda makes it impossible for me to vote. *NM*
- 26/08/2012 12:10:38 AM
277 Views
It is really REALLY hard to decide; even professional have had difficulty.
- 26/08/2012 02:08:43 AM
382 Views
21 years for killing 70+ people - Norway is a crazy, crazy place. *NM*
- 25/08/2012 04:44:07 PM
217 Views
Did you read any of the other replies in this post?
- 25/08/2012 05:24:21 PM
486 Views
Did you really expect him to read when he had the opportunity to be loud and snippy? *NM*
- 26/08/2012 01:40:30 AM
320 Views
It would be an understatement to say I have mixed feelings about this.
- 26/08/2012 12:39:19 AM
621 Views
For those who are confused about the premise of the Norwegian justice system
- 26/08/2012 09:25:18 AM
574 Views
I fear this clarification may further confuse things, by making punishment seem a non-factor.
- 26/08/2012 09:41:48 PM
605 Views