The governors of Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Virginia wrote a letter Tuesday asking the territory to show mercy to the Americans arrested on the island.
I absolutely agree that they should have been more careful. But justice is justice. . .so do you believe they deserve to do jail time for being stupid/careless when presumably no one was harmed?
My point is being ignorant is insufficient a defence for these type of offences. My opinion of whether they “deserve” it isn’t really relevant. The law is the law. If I get fucked up and drove; I could claim it was a stupid mistake and no one was harmed if I got pulled over and arrested. That doesn’t really matter and isn’t why it’s a law. I believe they should be charged and given lighter sentences and/or the US should apply for clemency on their behalf but my point remains it’s the discretion of local law enforcement.
My point is being ignorant is insufficient a defence for these type of offences.
Well you neither said this, and it was in response to someone explaining that they shouldnt be punished because it was an accident and thus a victimless crime.
And this whole thing is about us leaders lobbying to go easy on these people, so I hope you see why I didn’t realize what you were actually supposedly arguing.
Of course it is up to local law enforcement. I’ve seen no one argue or suggest otherwise.
Well you neither said this, and it was in response to someone explaining that they shouldnt be punished because it was an accident and thus a victimless crime.
It’s implied with my previous remarks. It being an accident/mistake is synonymous with pleading ignorance in this instance.
Of course it is up to local law enforcement. I’ve seen no one argue or suggest otherwise.
People saying it’s harmless or a simple mistake are actively undermining local law enforcement whether they know it or not. I’ve seen this countless times before. People get charged with crimes overseas, some that perhaps they wouldn’t at home. Then rather it being a simple matter of if said person did what they’re accused of doing it becomes “oh this countries law are ridiculous, this person simply didn’t know, local law enforcement is corrupt” and so on. Whatever it takes to remove accountability of the person and blame the host country or its law enforcement either directly or indirectly.
I guess what I’m arguing is if you can’t check your bags, read a foreign travel advisory or even pay attention to intercom announcements while you touch down; don’t come crying foul play to the consulate with your drug charge expecting to get a clemency plea. Just to be oddly specific.
I don’t really follow your point. All we’re doing here is pointing out how ridiculous it is that someone might spend a decade in prison for accidentally having 2 bullets in their bag and how much a travesty of justice it is.
Everyone agrees, be careful and don’t break the law especially in a foreign country. These people were dumb for not being careful.
But the law is blatantly unjust. They made a mistake. What does sending them to prison for 10 years do? I’m pretty sure these people won’t ever even travel to t&c again, and if they do they will triple check their bags. No prison time necessary, the point has been driven home I’m sure.
And plus this is not what the law is targeting, it is about gang violence. It’s not even in the spirit of the law.
You really want these people to spend ten years in prison for no reason at all strictly because they broke the letter of the law, but certainly not the spirit. Why?
I absolutely agree that they should have been more careful. But justice is justice. . .so do you believe they deserve to do jail time for being stupid/careless when presumably no one was harmed?
My point is being ignorant is insufficient a defence for these type of offences. My opinion of whether they “deserve” it isn’t really relevant. The law is the law. If I get fucked up and drove; I could claim it was a stupid mistake and no one was harmed if I got pulled over and arrested. That doesn’t really matter and isn’t why it’s a law. I believe they should be charged and given lighter sentences and/or the US should apply for clemency on their behalf but my point remains it’s the discretion of local law enforcement.
Well you neither said this, and it was in response to someone explaining that they shouldnt be punished because it was an accident and thus a victimless crime.
And this whole thing is about us leaders lobbying to go easy on these people, so I hope you see why I didn’t realize what you were actually supposedly arguing.
Of course it is up to local law enforcement. I’ve seen no one argue or suggest otherwise.
It’s implied with my previous remarks. It being an accident/mistake is synonymous with pleading ignorance in this instance.
People saying it’s harmless or a simple mistake are actively undermining local law enforcement whether they know it or not. I’ve seen this countless times before. People get charged with crimes overseas, some that perhaps they wouldn’t at home. Then rather it being a simple matter of if said person did what they’re accused of doing it becomes “oh this countries law are ridiculous, this person simply didn’t know, local law enforcement is corrupt” and so on. Whatever it takes to remove accountability of the person and blame the host country or its law enforcement either directly or indirectly.
I guess what I’m arguing is if you can’t check your bags, read a foreign travel advisory or even pay attention to intercom announcements while you touch down; don’t come crying foul play to the consulate with your drug charge expecting to get a clemency plea. Just to be oddly specific.
I don’t really follow your point. All we’re doing here is pointing out how ridiculous it is that someone might spend a decade in prison for accidentally having 2 bullets in their bag and how much a travesty of justice it is.
Everyone agrees, be careful and don’t break the law especially in a foreign country. These people were dumb for not being careful.
But the law is blatantly unjust. They made a mistake. What does sending them to prison for 10 years do? I’m pretty sure these people won’t ever even travel to t&c again, and if they do they will triple check their bags. No prison time necessary, the point has been driven home I’m sure.
And plus this is not what the law is targeting, it is about gang violence. It’s not even in the spirit of the law.
You really want these people to spend ten years in prison for no reason at all strictly because they broke the letter of the law, but certainly not the spirit. Why?