Given the gang problem in the US, why do liberals still think we should be soft on crime?
342849
Capital punishment is called for in many cases...this should be one.
914533
If we are going forward as a country with the notion that punishment should be heaped on punishment, and crime should be heaped on crime, then yes.  \n\nMy true belief is that we should just stick to the original crime and enforce the laws that are already on the books.  Yes it is horrible if a homosexual man is assaulted because he is homosexual, but when you boil it down, is it any more terrible than the little old lady that is assaulted because someone wants to take her purse?\n\nMy belief is our courts only need to enforce the laws on the books, but our politicians believe that more laws (justifying the politicians job) equal better life.  It is so not true, I doubt one victim has been saved because a criminal thought, "man, if I kick this guys a**, I'll get a year in jail, but if this guy is (insert race/gender/sexuality/religion) I'll get another year so I won't do it. \n\nThat just doesn't happen.
1118778
I think they should have special gang prisons, where you do 10 years in solitary confinement for having been part of a gang. Gangs aren't covered under 'freedom of assembly' etc., gangs usually come together to do bad things, like hurt people, or sell drugs, or steal stuff. They're a confabulation of like-minded criminals, and the best way to deal with em isn't to 'empower them', or write school reports about em, it's put em in the Big House and have done with it. Good riddance. Finished. No mas.\nAll done. See ya! Bye-bye...why? Because there's a Much Larger Gang out there, called 'The American Public', all 280 million(plus guests), and we don't like gangs. We see gangs as a threat to public safety, and Good Order. If you got REALLY brave, you could raise the anti-gang sentence in solitary to 20, or even 30 years. Even 40, maybe, because recidivism is a problem with gangs. Do your report on needing more prisons to combat the growing gang problem in america, unless you're one of the people out there that thinks that having gangs is a Good Thing, and that you want to see america degenerate to be like some of the central american countries etc., where gangs basically run the country. Is that your thing? I say 'make the sentence for being part of a gang 50 years, in solitary confinement, no parole', but that's just my opinion...of course you'd have to incarcerate like 1/4 the people in California, but good riddance there...it'd solve the problem, though.
757266
Because they're a bunch of politically correct, intellectually challenged tree-hugging, liberal lunatics.\n\nWe need a lot less law and a lot more justice in this country of ours. The next time some woolly headed, soft soaping wally gets up on his box I suggest that we all gang up and stuff him in it!
76881
Some of the things that our Justice System does never ceases to amaze me.  I have sat through many court hearings and it always surprises me that many violent offenders would get probation and the non violent or victimless crimes had the book thrown at them.  The whole system needs to be looked at and have some real changes made to it.  We have too many repeat offenders on the streets and not nearly enough people who have committed a violent crime behind bars protecting society.  Our government's war on drugs may have something to do with prosecuter's and judge's thinking when it come to those kind of crimes, because statisticly it will look like we are really cracking down on the problem, when in fact we really are getting no place with it.  Fact is drug users will probably find it easier to score while in prison than on the streets.  Nobody wants a prison or jail in their neighborhood,yet with our growing population we need more of them to fit our needs.  There will always be a portion of the population that is not going to play by the rules and be in trouble.  Those that we need to change is the Prrosecuting Attorney who makes all the deals and the Judge's that accept them.  These people are elected officials and if they do not act as we need we can vote them out.  You will find that one individual has a lot more clout in local county political races and can do a lot more by constantly working on the local level.  You can take a whole state by taking it one county at a time.  You will be surprised by how many people one voice can affect, you started by asking the question now take it a step further.
304528
Mob mentality has a lot to do with their behavior.  People will do things in a group they would never do if alone.\n\nThe immigration issue is a difficult one.  What needs to happen is that workable, enforceable laws must be established and supported that allow LEGAL access for those wanting to work in our country, but they must work within the system.  If they don't, and we allow that, it's an insult to every immigrant who waited and worked to get here legally.\n\nWe simply cannot allow our laws to not only be disrespected and disregarded, but to have to financially support those who are breaking our laws as well.  That recipe will lead to disaster for our state and our country.  So change the laws.  Establish a win win situation for both sides.\n\nOur neighbors across the street worked three jobs each to get enough money to legally bring their relatives to the United States.  Is it fair that their hard work and sacrifice be dismissed, and the same rights granted to those who flaunt the laws of our land and "sneak" in?\n\nIt's a difficult situation, but we cannot abandon the rule of law.
1009954
Liberals have to express their bravery in some way since the vast majority are nothing but cowards.\n\nWhat better way to do that than by cracking open a child's skull, inserting a rod in the child's skull to destroy the brain, then reaching in and sucking the child's brains out with a vacuum and then dumping the leftovers of the child in the nights trash.\n\nPerfect crime against the most defenseless being on earth with the mothers consent no less-but let's make sure we protect those baby seals.
560375
your right...don't we have more dangerous people to worry about right now then someone working for next to nothing at a meat factory or farm.\n\nWouldn't we be better off to spend the money and law enforcement resourses taking rapists, murders and child molesters off the streets.\n\nwe need to get our priorities straight
936612
At times our mercy turns out to be our crime.\nWhen we hesitate to disclose the name of a rapist or a murderer out of our mercy towards that particular criminal fearing the kind of punishment that may be meted out, we are committing a crime, not showering our mercy.\nWhen we have a very soft approach towards the terrorists in the name of 'human rights', we are doing nothing but a crime.
106047
I think gangs condone violence, and further its prevalence in American society, but I'm not sure "support" is the right word.  Maybe.  Anyway, they are a little different than terrorists and need to be dealt with differently.  For starters, they are mostly comprised of younger individuals, usually minors.  These are citizens that can ideally be changed for the better before they are adult members of society.  And a lot of gangs want good things, they just go about it the wrong way. \nI am not saying no gangs are violent or that no gang member should be punished, I just don't quite agree with your statements.
734481
Stop listening to politicians promising to "get tough on crimes."   They get elected, then enact mandatory minimums, which take away the power from the judges to rule on individual cases.   If you get caught with a joint in some states, you get five years.   You lose your wife, kids, house, car, job.   And the taxpayers get to support that person.   Drug laws are the worst in this country.   Check out the November Coalition's web site to see thousands of people busted for stupid drug laws, thousands we support, thousands of lives wasted.\nThere will soon be legislation to release elderly prisoners (non-violent), as they are the most expensive to house because of their medical problems.   I hope that people will support this.\n\nMy 65 year old husband was screwed over by the parole board four years ago, and we are still trying to get it straightened out.   Meanwhile, your tax dollars have paid for his shoulder surgery, knee replacements and dental.    I know of many other older prisoners who just want to go home and chill.   They are worn out and are no threat to anyone.      Most of them got into trouble for crimes back in the 1970's, which is nothing compared to the gangbanger drive-by street punks today.    They just want some peace and quiet and fresh air, and to die where someone cares about them.  \n\nIf these older guys were released, it would help the financial burden immensely.    The families would then be responsible, but trust me, we don't mind.
816327
I don't think a solid number should be set. However, as illegal immigration as I proudly am, there are a lot of people here illegally and at least some of those people are good working people with no criminal record.   There's no practical or moral reason to boot productive people in society.\n   That said, some gang members do exist, drug dealers, etc. As an independent nation we have the right and responsibility to deport those who do have a criminal record.  \n   This applies to anyone of any national origin, I single no one out.  I feel the US has the soverign right to set quality standards for those who stay.  If we continue allowing anyone to come waltzing into the US the only other option will be an eventual police state, coupled with more gov't control of the economy.\n   I can think of nothing more tragic.
1160090
You cannot stop crime. No matter the consequences, people will exercise their free will. What can you do? Do not support anything gang affiliated i.e. slang, clothing, attitude. Make it unacceptable in your life. That doesn't mean your safe from it, but if you don't support it in any way then you help the problem. And if it means your life give them no respect. Buck the tiger.
713259
All excellent points - and the simple truth is that people **DO** afford criminals more rights than victims. It isn't politically correct to do otherwise.\n\nHowever in the US, a very interesting project has been set up. In short although people cannot be FORCED to submit to corporal punishment - some criminals can VOLUNTEER to be treated in that way under some conditions - and perhaps get reduced jail time in return.\n\nLots of details here http://www.okplus.com/fedup/index.html \n\nVery interestingly, they presently have a ZERO recidivism level for people that have been through their system.\n\nDo not be thrown by the site, the program is still running BUT the website is badly in need of some updating (or was when I last looked)\n\nI think one hangup people have about corporal punishment, is the perceived severity of it. The old UK / USA way of flogging across the back in fact left little more than "shaving nicks" - if it cut at all.\n\nAnyone who has seen too many "Mutiny on the bounty" style films and wishes to disagree should try to remember that the make-up department tends to get more than a little carried away.\n\nWet rope is not sharp enough or dense enough to "lay a mans back open to the bone" Something does not need to cut to be felt ;)\n\nThe scheme mentioned above in fact uses low-voltage cable as a cheap disposable lash material. Like the rope, little or no cutting at all - but apparently the welts are quite tender at the time.\n\nI just wish we had a system like this in the UK too, I think it could be a valuable tool to help people stay out of prison and to reduce the prison population. Nanny-state in the UK though at the moment so not much chance for a while yet.
243731
Because liberals can't handle the concept of a criminal dying.
1096871
The American political landscape is much more diversified than being simply Republican, Democratic, liberal, or conservative.  I for one, subscribe to a more libertarian philosophy.  \n\nI believe that the government's sole purpose is to exist for the benefit of its citizens in as noninvasive a way as possible.  To accomplish this, the government's power should be very limited and law enforcement should cease to focus on what we might call "victimless" crimes that impede their ability to process and punish legitimate criminals.\n\nIn places where my views stray from the Libertarian platform, I generally side with conservatives (NOT post-Reagan neo-conservatives) who tend to agree with my commitment to free markets, a loosely regulated economy, and small government.
797245
I just attended a lecture yesterday that talked about these very statistics.  Our crime rate is actually going down, but our rate of incarceration is going up.  This reflects the US' "war on crime" and "war on drugs" started in the late 70s, early 80s (Reagan, mostly).  It's because we are taking action and using incarceration as the solution.  To really properly analize these numbers, you also have to look at the crime rates of all these nations (we also score very poorly, there, so you still have a point).  The statistics for african-americans is even worse - something like 6000+ african-american inmates per 100,000.