Justice and Mercy...

The recent capture of Roman Polanski, a convicted and admitted rapist, in Europe, and the subsequent debate over whether or not he should be extradited to the United States in order to serve the remainder of his life in prison, has me disturbed.



The most disturbing thing is that there is any debate at all. The second most disturbing thing is that those opposing his incarceration argue for forgiveness.



Mr. Polanski lured his victim under false pretenses and used drugs and alcohol to incapacitate a 13-year old girl in the home of one of his friends. He then proceeded to sexually assault and rape her.



He was arrested for his crime and confessed to it. He was sentenced to prison and, before he served a day of his time he fled to Europe.



That was 30 years ago.



His victim, now in her 40s, has said publicly and repeatedly that she forgives Mr. Polanski and wishes him no malice. That is an exceptional example for all of us to strive to follow. The world would be a much more peaceful place if we could.



So, why am I so upset about the debate?



Mercy and forgiveness are things extended by INDIVIDUALS to individuals. They may only come legitimately from a PERSON of his own volition.



Governments and courts may NOT dispense mercy or forgiveness. They MUST dispense justice in the protection of the innocent and the punishing of the guilty. Society must NEVER forgive a person who violates another, who murders another, who abuses another.

When we allow our personal feelings to interfere with the order of the civil society we are setting the civil society up for failure.

Hate-Crime Legislation Unneccessary and Unwelcome

I read the text of Senate Bill 909.

Some of my friends and family have expressed concern that it may impinge on the speech of religious leaders who express views against homosexuality. I disagree with that assessment, but I am not a lawyer.

It specifically EXCLUDES free religious speech from prosecution, but does include conspiracy and planning to commit a hate-crime.

I am opposed to hate crime legislation in general. I believe that an assault is an assault, a rape is a rape, and a murder is a murder, without respect to the victim’s origin, beliefs or behaviors.

If our existing laws were enforced we would have no need for additional definitions and divisions. If our existing laws are not being enforced, then we need to change the judges, the prosecutors, and maybe even the police departments. This can, for the most part, be done on a local level.

When we see that our county attorney is not vigorously prosecuting certain cases, we can oppose them in the next election, or if the case is serious enough we can request an investigation of the matter.

Police departments are especially subject to change due to popular opinion. If we see that police officers are behaving with bias we need to let the mayor and the city council know. All of their activities are a matter of public record. We are free to review them.

Judges may be impeached or lose re-election if they are known to behave with bias.

On that basis, and under the premise that we have enough laws on the subject already, and on the general principle that the Federal Government has no business “helping” my local government do its “job”, I encourage you to call your US Senators and ask them to vote “no” on Senate Bill 909.