Twenty One years ago, (1992), I wrote a book titled, “I Hold These Truths.” It has 90 chapters, and is basically my opinion on 90 different subjects. Long out of print, and I didn’t save it on my computer, as I did another one, “Consequences,” which I wrote in 1998. Occasionally, I thumb through these books, (I have but a few of each), and realize that I haven’t changed my mind about anything for all practical purposes. Both are dated in some instances, because they were written a long time ago, but the following is chapter 62 from “I Hold These Truths.” I haven’t changed a single word, and I think it is still right on, 21 years later.
“Like the so-called “insanity” plea, parole should go the way of the Dodo bird, and fast. Everyone knows that if you threaten a child with punishment for some transgression, you should follow through with it. Telling a child something, and not meaning it, is an invitation to disaster, if you want your kids to grow up to b decent, law abiding, productive, citizens. What then, is the point in telling criminals they will get five years in the slammer if it doesn’t mean that at all, but much less? Where is the sense in releasing a criminal before his sentence is up? If you want to put him away so he won’t a danger to society, and punish him for the damage he has inflicted upon innocents, let’s say what we mean, and mean what we say. If the law says ten years, then it should be just that. Ten years, not five years, or even nine years and 51 weeks.
“It’s a game brilliantly played by judges and lawyers. A game telling the players that a word doesn’t really means what it says. Yes means no, and long means short. It’s almost as if we don’t speak the same language. The principle of parole, is supposed to be ’time off for good behavior.’ Criminals should have thought of good behavior before they committed the crime, not in jail. If a crime has been committed, it must be paid for by whatever means the law provides, but time off for good behavior is absurd, when it means releasing thugs back onto the street, to begin again where thy left off. Very few experts believe in ’rehabilitation’ any longer. If a first offender is severely punished, perhaps he won’t become a second offender. If he becomes a second offender, then throw the book at him, but when you do, you’d better mean what you say.
“The result of the parole system, is not only an ever escalating crime rate, but the political creation of parole boards, mountains of paper work, huge administrative costs, and expensive investigations. Parole officers don’t come cheap, and you have to have enough of them to keep track of every single parolee, to be certain they behave themselves. It’s much cheaper to monitor someone who is incarcerated. If a reward for good behavior is desired, there are lots of possible perks in prison. A better cell, more interesting jobs, educational opportunities, extended visiting hours, and even a raise in pay, so the released prisoner will have a better chance at re-establishment in society upon release. Billions of dollars would be saved each year, if the parole system were abolished. Let judges sentence convicted criminals as they see fit and as the law requires., without taking into consideration an absurd parole system. The parole system has so many flaws, irregularities and expenses, that it is unfair to victims and society as a whole.
“Perhaps the most unfair of all crime committed upon society, is the existence of the ’insanity’ plea. According to current legal practice, if a criminal was ’insane’ at the time he committed the crime, he can’t be punished as he would if he were ’sane.’ I say, “NUTS.” Who cares whether he was insane or sane? Did the victim suffer less? Aren’t criminals actually ’insane’ by accepted standards, when they violated societal rules? Who is to judge ’insanity’ anyway? Psychiatrists? I have never known a normal psychiatrist. Why should such a plea even exist in the first place? It has nothing to do with a Constitutional guarantee of no unjust punishment. It is a total fraud, which is continually exploited by clever lawyers. Should a murderer be any less reprehensible and pay a lower price if he is judged a mental; midget, or supposedly has a screw loose? Even if he is insane, or was when he did it, so what? What possible difference can it make to society, or a victim, if a heinous crime is committed under less than desirable mental conditions? A fair trial is to prove what was done, not whether the criminal intended it or not.
“Who cares? Other than allowing vicious criminals to go free, or be under-punished, what is served by an ’insanity’ plea? How about huge lawyer fees, letting scum out earlier, or incurring monstrous mental treatment costs? It is an absurdity, which should be instantly erased from every state and federal statute book. Charles Manson, I am sure, is crazy. Why does he still live? Because he is insane. Because of pitiful, weeping, bleeding heart, liberal, do gooders, who I would like to lock up because of their own insanity. Society steps on cockroaches, ants, and beetles. It kills mice, rats, and poisonous snakes. What is wrong with electrocuting a babbling murderer? Absolutely nothing!”
P.S. I am awfully tired of seeing black faces on news shows, as perpetrators of kidnapping, rape, murder, and assorted mayhem, usually against whites. The negro race is 12% of America’s population, but far more than 50% of crime is committed by black males between the ages of 15 and 35. Is that a racist sentence? Maybe, but I am sick and tired of them. I was mugged and left for dead by three teen age black animals in Philly, and had my ten ice cream stores robbed at least once a month, always by blacks, and the stores were all in white neighborhoods. I moved to tiny Silverton Colorado, to save a marvelous Victorian hotel from demolition, and there was one black guy in town. Guess who gave me the bad check? Bill O’Reilly, of late, has been feeling the same as me, and pointed out that blacks are now about 70% born out of wedlock, live in single family homes, and have abominable up-bringing. True, but an awfully good reason to get out of big cities, and carry a gun.