Yorkshire Ripper to be freed?

[kensei]

And please British right-wingers...will you PLEASE stop using the term "political correctness" in every other post on this board! Geesh! I've been meaning to bring this up for a couple of years now but haven't to avoid sounding too "confrontational". But in every thread on this board where something remotely "political" becomes the topic of discussion at least ONE poster has to use this term to describe ANYTHING they consider "left of center". That's fine if you want to argue against policies you disagree with, but stop using tired old cliched terms that make you sound ignorant (though I'm not accusing the above two posters of necessarily being "ignorant"). I'm assuming the posters above are Brits since this is the only message board I've been to where this term is more bandied about (and this board isn't even ABOUT politics)! I believe the American right burned out on this term about 5-10 years ago, except maybe in the southern U.S.

Just to be clear- I'm not British (I live in about the very center of North America) and if you knew me you would definitely not call me a right-winger. I'm not a left-winger either so I guess I'd be an Independent. The Hinckley reference was something that just popped into my head because he has been let out temporarily and I would have mentioned it even if he had shot a Democrat. I still hear the PC term every now and then, and I was only using it in reference to how others might label me for being judgemental on someone who's mentally ill. Actually I don't think wanting a notorious serial killer with 20 victims to stay locked up for life has anything to do with politics.

[Nothing to see]

I read this morning it's probable he will be released from Broadmoor. I've read all your comments as well. If a board certified psychiatrist determines that Sutcliffe is no longer a danger to society, then it's going to take another board certified psychiatrist to examine Sutcliffe and disagree. You agree?

I have no idea if he's going to be moved. The probability seems yes. Have people really forgotten what Sutcliffe did? Obviously not. He killed more than Jack but it's interesting that Jack has his own website.

OK. I'm waiting for someone to come on line and tell me that Sutcliffe has his own website. In this world, I'd believe it.

Like I said, hanging back in '82 would have been the appropriate response. There you go.

[Robert]

Anyone who isn't deterred by capital punishment or a long prison sentence, is too stupid to be let loose on society.

[truebluedub]

I think it boils down to this. And as unpopular as it will be on this board, I'm not into punishment for several reasons. The biggest is that no amount of punishment will bring the victims back. And capital punishment/longer prison sentences really aren't deterrents. So what's the point? I'm not into this eye-for-an-eye mentality and so I think if he's rehabilitated then release him. Of course, how can we be sure that he is rehabilitated? The chimp was well-trained too... On the other hand, the government could put a positive spin on this: "We rehabilitated a notorious serial killer!" If successful (big if), it may change society's view of the role of prison which to me is still medieval.

A similar case for release (actually a better one) could be made for the Manson followers.

Well if you look at the modern aim of the prison most western nations already think like this. Oh and at least you guys have Governments who don't increase the number of crimes on the statute books at the same time as decreasing the number of prisons.

Chris Lowe

[Barnaby]

Is this just about rehabilitation? What about punishment for his crimes?

I think it boils down to this. And as unpopular as it will be on this board, I'm not into punishment for several reasons. The biggest is that no amount of punishment will bring the victims back. And capital punishment/longer prison sentences really aren't deterrents. So what's the point? I'm not into this eye-for-an-eye mentality and so I think if he's rehabilitated then release him. Of course, how can we be sure that he is rehabilitated? The chimp was well-trained too... On the other hand, the government could put a positive spin on this: "We rehabilitated a notorious serial killer!" If successful (big if), it may change society's view of the role of prison which to me is still medieval.

A similar case for release (actually a better one) could be made for the Manson followers.

[Pablito]

He's 61 years old. He's apparently totally harmless now, according to parole officers: which is what tends to happen to serial killers of his age. But he wont be allowed out, he is being let out of Broadmoor and sent to a regular security prison. It is unlikely he'll ever get out.

[Mort Belfry]

Look, the article says he weighs 19 stone. Be a bit difficult to miss,don't you think? A bit difficult to move, I would also think.

If there's one thing Peter Sutcliffe has proved himself to be, that is resourceful.

[Ally]

No. Neither the right nor the left fight for actual individuality for people to choose their own destinations in life. The right takes away rights under the guise of protection of life and jesus and the left does it under a fake premise of egalitarian utopia. They are both wrong.

That's why a smart person is neither.

[Pinkerton]

As opposed to a government that believes the individual has the right to think, do, say and eat whatever the individual decides, with the sole exception that it doesn't impinge on the rights of others to do the same.

Okay, I'll bite Ally. The last time I checked it was the RIGHT that has fought to keep drugs illegal, keep prostitution illegal, the right to end my own life illegal, fought in the U.S. to make flag burning illegal, not allowed gays to get married, etc. Is this then all political correctness?

[Robert]

Well yes, Ally said it - except she used the word "right" twice. Maybe it's just me, but whenever I hear the word "right" I have visions of lawyers.

[Ally]

As opposed to...?

As opposed to a government that believes the individual has the right to think, do, say and eat whatever the individual decides, with the sole exception that it doesn't impinge on the rights of others to do the same.

[Brenda]

Look, the article says he weighs 19 stone. Be a bit difficult to miss,don't you think? A bit difficult to move, I would also think.

Weight can be lost. And being free to kill again might be his greatest motivating factor to lose weight.

[Pinkerton]

We have a Government that tells us what to think, what to say, what to do, and even what to eat

As opposed to...?

[Robert]

Hi Pinkerton

Well, that's what we know it as here - political correctness. Maybe these people are calling themselves something different now, but the name has stuck.

We have a Government that tells us what to think, what to say, what to do, and even what to eat.

Don't blame me, I didn't vote for the bastards.

[Pinkerton]

It reminds me of the treatment that Ronald Reagan's attempted assassin John Hinckley ended up getting. But I wonder- would this be the first convicted serial killer ever to gain eventual release? It seems outrageous. It might seem
"politically incorrect" of me, but ...

The PC brigade will probably forgive him for the murders and then arrest him for being overweight.

Oh christ...Here we go again. They are NOT going to release the guy! About every year or two a "sensational" article comes out like this about how they are going to release a serial killer. And the Right begins streaming bloody murder...And the comments of "political correctness" start getting flung about. This is so OLD and so BORING! One "stage" in the justice "process" recommended the prisoner be released. He still has about another two or three "stages" to go through before his release will be approved. And NO politician right or left is going to sign off on this. Of course the press isn't going to wait for this long when they can scare people into buying their newspaper with this type of journalistic tripe...

And please British right-wingers...will you PLEASE stop using the term "political correctness" in every other post on this board! Geesh! I've been meaning to bring this up for a couple of years now but haven't to avoid sounding too "confrontational". But in every thread on this board where something remotely "political" becomes the topic of discussion at least ONE poster has to use this term to describe ANYTHING they consider "left of center". That's fine if you want to argue against policies you disagree with, but stop using tired old cliched terms that make you sound ignorant (though I'm not accusing the above two posters of necessarily being "ignorant"). I'm assuming the posters above are Brits since this is the only message board I've been to where this term is more bandied about (and this board isn't even ABOUT politics)! I believe the American right burned out on this term about 5-10 years ago, except maybe in the southern U.S.