Back in 1843, a Brit named Daniel M’Naghton tried to assassinate the Prime Minister, and failed. He only killed his assistant. When he came to trial, he pled that he was insane, or words to that effect, and he escaped being hung. As the chief medical officer of a Baltimore circuit court said, “When you’ve got no other defense, that’s the way to go.” I’m certain that’s true. The so-called “M’Naghton Defense” has been used thousands of times since.
I there any doubt but that when Jared Loughner comes to trial, that will be plea? Nuts. When Brinkley shot Reagan, he pled the same, as do most criminals when nothing else will work. The Constitution says nothing about that, so it is in no way a Constitutional plea. It’s ridiculous as far as I can see. Loughner killed several, deliberately, and wounded more. Is he insane? If he is, so what? Who cares? He should have been shot dead instantly, and saved all the nonsensical trial. He should be put to death NOW. Hundreds saw it, and it was recorded on several video cameras. He deliberately committed the deed, so why does he live?
Then there is the so called ’shoe bomber’, who tried to bring a plane down over Detroit, and failed, thanks to a smart stewardess. Or the Times Square would be bomber, who also failed. He tried to kill hundreds, as did the ’shoe bomber.’ Why do they live? Why shouldn’t they be electrocuted, or slowly dismembered, as an example? Why is America such a wimp? Is it ’justice,’ for murderers or would be murderers to be allowed to plead insanity or other such nonsense?
If I shot a robber dead, if he were in my house, I would not be charged with murder. If I were carrying a gun, and shot dead a bank robber as he was committing his foul deed, I would not be charged, nor would a cop who did the same thing. Why then, shouldn’t a criminal who attempted to blow up Times Square, or bring down a huge plane over a major city, be allowed to live any longer than it takes to capture him? Why should Jared Loughner be allowed any more of a trial, than to show the film, listen to the witnesses, then be put to death? Why should there be any ’legal’ excuse for what he did? Does he have a screw loose? Who cares? Why spend a fortune imprisoning him a the funny farm for years and decades?
I am speaking about crimes committed in front of several witnesses, or which have been filmed or video taped. When Brinkley shot Reagan, there was no doubt. I’m not getting into DNEA evidence or the like. There have been a few instances of executions of innocents, but in no way were their crimes witnessed by many, or on film. American states have jurisdiction over insanity pleas, not the federal government, as it is not a Constitutional issue. The Eighth Amendment does not apply. Get rid of the vermin, and stop using tax payer dollars to keep them alive and imprisoned in nut houses. That’s the kind thing to do!