How long should Dzhokhar Tsarnaev get behind bars?

Started by merithyn, July 10, 2013, 02:40:01 PM

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Assuming he's found guilty *coughs*, how long should Dzhokhar Tsarnaev get?

American - Death penalty
American - Life w/o parole
American - Life with possibility of parole
American - > 30 years, but not life
American - < 30 years
ROTW - Death penalty
ROTW - Life w/o parole
ROTW - Life with possibility of parole
ROTW - > 30 years, but not life
ROTW - < 30 years
Other - Share with the class, please

Neil

Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2013, 08:07:10 PM
I thought Meri was just saying that it is even harder for her to understand what he did given his age. I didn't think she was saying that he should get lenient treatment because of that.
It seemed like she was trying to say that he probably didn't understand what he was doing since he was so young and innoccent and whatnot.  I'm just saying it's a bad idea for women to be allowed to vote, or sit in a legislature, or work certain types of responsible job.
I do not hate you, nor do I love you, but you are made out of atoms which I can use for something else.

garbon

Quote from: Neil on July 11, 2013, 08:14:37 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2013, 08:07:10 PM
I thought Meri was just saying that it is even harder for her to understand what he did given his age. I didn't think she was saying that he should get lenient treatment because of that.
It seemed like she was trying to say that he probably didn't understand what he was doing since he was so young and innoccent and whatnot.  I'm just saying it's a bad idea for women to be allowed to vote, or sit in a legislature, or work certain types of responsible job.

That's why it is better to read what people have actually written rather than dreaming up what you think they are saying. :P
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

Neil

Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2013, 08:16:16 PM
Quote from: Neil on July 11, 2013, 08:14:37 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2013, 08:07:10 PM
I thought Meri was just saying that it is even harder for her to understand what he did given his age. I didn't think she was saying that he should get lenient treatment because of that.
It seemed like she was trying to say that he probably didn't understand what he was doing since he was so young and innoccent and whatnot.  I'm just saying it's a bad idea for women to be allowed to vote, or sit in a legislature, or work certain types of responsible job.
That's why it is better to read what people have actually written rather than dreaming up what you think they are saying. :P
What would lead you to think that?
I do not hate you, nor do I love you, but you are made out of atoms which I can use for something else.

derspiess

Women never say what they mean anyway.

"I'm not mad.  Really."

Yeah, right.
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

Capetan Mihali

I think he "should" get LWOP.  The scare quotes meaning that I'm not making up my own fantasy-land American penal code; in a country where juveniles could until very recently get LWOP for committing burglary and robbery, and plenty of adults still do get life without parole under crazy "three strikes" laws, conspiring to commit a terrorist attack should pretty clearly get you the most severe punishment short of death.  Probably if big bro were still around, I'd say he "should" get death, they way they split the difference with John Muhhamad ("DC Sniper").

If I were making up my own fantasy penal code, I'm not sure what I'd give the Tsarnaevs, since they're the rare case.  Probably something close to the max in my scheme, life with parole review at various intervals; I don't know if you should ever be let out after doing something like this, but certainly the opportunity to earn privileges and improvements in condition of confinement (contact visits and more of them, furloughs and work release -- though probably not for most terrorism conspiracy crimes), should be part of a parole review.  Or just straight to the firing squad for national enemies/irredeemable baddies (the Ideologue approach), and then a sensible and humane prison system for the rest of the penal system.
"The internet's completely over. [...] The internet's like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good. They just fill your head with numbers and that can't be good for you."
-- Prince, 2010. (R.I.P.)

merithyn

Quote from: KRonn on July 11, 2013, 07:46:33 PM

I can understand that, his youth being a factor. But it's just one factor, he still planned and executed what he did. I have a hard time getting past that.  His young age doesn't sway me. He's well old enough to have known what he was doing, and even being under the influence of someone else doesn't absolve him IMO. He didn't have to go along. He had everything. A good life, going to college, American friends, living well, government benefits. But he still wanted to go on this tear, to kill. Planned it all out with his brother, a horrid attack to kill and maim. Then bragged about it. In fact, given the heinous actions he's all the worse.

As for prison time. I don't figure he's going to reform, because as I said he already had everything going for him, a good life and all, but his intentions were quite otherwise.

I understand that. I said that I have a hard time thinking monster when I see him, not that I don't get what he did.
Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd go away...

merithyn

Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2013, 08:07:10 PM
I thought Meri was just saying that it is even harder for her to understand what he did given his age. I didn't think she was saying that he should get lenient treatment because of that.

I appreciate that you actually read what I post, g. :hug:
Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd go away...

garbon

Quote from: merithyn on July 12, 2013, 12:17:30 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2013, 08:07:10 PM
I thought Meri was just saying that it is even harder for her to understand what he did given his age. I didn't think she was saying that he should get lenient treatment because of that.

I appreciate that you actually read what I post, g. :hug:

:hug:
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

CountDeMoney

Meri, stop being a weenie already.  Goddamn.

merithyn

Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 12, 2013, 06:15:27 AM
Meri, stop being a weenie already.  Goddamn.

If you haven't figured out by now that I'm a weenie, you'll never learn. :P

I will always believe the best in people until proven otherwise, and even then, I'll hope that there's a good reason for why they acted that way. It's part of my charm. :D
Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd go away...

derspiess

So she gushes over that little Joker shit, but never bothers to give me the benefit of the doubt.  Figures :glare:
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

merithyn

Quote from: derspiess on July 12, 2013, 08:57:40 AM
So she gushes over that little Joker shit, but never bothers to give me the benefit of the doubt.  Figures :glare:

You'd be amazed at how often I give you the benefit of the doubt, derspiess. I'm ever the optimist, no matter how many times I'm let down. :sleep:
Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd go away...

Neil

I'm young-looking, maybe.  Maybe that means that you should give me the benefit of the doubt.
I do not hate you, nor do I love you, but you are made out of atoms which I can use for something else.

Malthus

Quote from: derspiess on July 12, 2013, 08:57:40 AM
So she gushes over that little Joker shit, but never bothers to give me the benefit of the doubt.  Figures :glare:

Try being young and cute.  :P
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane—Marcus Aurelius