Kreuzberger wrote:
I'd say the over-riding issue is that the relevant, competent authorities are doing their best to prevent further crimes being committed and mitigate against the ensuing public order problems associated with vigilantes attacking this woman who has already been punished as determined by the courts. The mail however are blatantly trying to undo that work and to provide handy hints for any maniac who can't find a paediatrician to assault.
I would have thought that any fool could see that.
It deals with a very fundamental issue, central to 'Mailite' thinking, which has several themes.
Court and legal decisions are always available to be gainsayed by those who, for whatever reason, disagree with them. Of course, that is done with no clear understanding of legal, procedural or social justice issues.
So there can be a refusal to accept the nature of the crime (at it's oddest that constant call for some politician or person in public life that you happen not to agree with to be charged with 'treason'.)
We have seen similar on this forum recently.
There is an inability to understand that the judge and jury heard all of the arguments in a case and made up their minds accoding to the law. Newspaper reports are given the same weight as testimony.
There is an utter failure to comprehend that sentencing is carried out according to a set tariff, and not according to the whim of the judge like some wild west kangaroo court.
If any of those elements go wrong there is the process of appeal.
Beyond sheer mental incompetence there is also a wellspring of utter nastiness, the belief that people are unimprovable, that 'paying your debt to society' just isn't enough. The old debate, of course, of whether or not prison is a place for revenge or reform.
All points that the vigilantes will fail to grasp. And as the stupid, like the poor, are always with us, steps have to be taken to ensure ex-offenders' safety.