Are you familiar with the name Esteban Santiago? He’s the creep who killed five and injured another eight at the Ft. Lauderdale Florida airport. He has had a couple of mental problems in the past, including turning himself in to an FBI official in Alaska, telling him that his mind was being controlled by a federal government agency. He is an ex-service man, served in Iraq, and was given a general (not honorable) discharge. Before he did the murders in Florida, he says he had a vision that ISIS was calling him or something to that effect. I mention this because he is obviously going to plead ‘insanity,’ and probably go to the nut house for a time, and at huge taxpayer expense. I am going to quote from page 209 of “I Hold These Truths,” (a few left), which I wrote 25 years ago, and I haven’t changed my mind.
“Perhaps the most unfair of all crimes 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 that is continually exploited by clever lawyers. Should a murderer be any less reprehensible and pay a lower price if he is 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 that should be erased from every state and federal statue book. Charles Manson, I am sure is crazy, but why should 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.”
As far as Esteban Santiago is concerned, his mental condition was obvious, probably while he was in the army, but he didn’t harm anyone. However, he has murdered five and injured another eight in cold blood. He planned it, and secreted a gun and ammo in his luggage. Is he a mental case? I am sure, but I am also sure that there are five dead, others injured, and the mental and physical cost to the deceased families, is incalculable. Esteban needs to be put to death, and an insanity plea helps no one, other than lawyers. The cost to taxpayers of ‘insanity’ pleas is outrageous, and it does not serve the case of justice.
I thought all but a very few of “I Hold These Truths” were gone, but a few are available, at the same $9.95 rate, shipped to you. “I Hold These Truths” and “Consequences” are different, but if you like these columns, you need both. I can ship both together if you so choose. Don Stott 1-888-786-8822