Church arsonists get life in prison

[Phenomanul]

Normally I like to consider my posts somewhat carefully. I think I end up backspacing and deleting more than I actually end up posting sometimes. Being human, I do occasionally fire one off without much thinking, and this is one of those cases.

You are right about this.

Let me say that again, just to make sure:
You are right about this.

Churches are markedly different in character than empty gas stations.

They form the basis of a community in many rural places, and are quite meaningful to the people who worship there. I can appreciate that, despite what you seem to think about me based on previously expressed opinions on other topics.

Burning down a church is, essentially, a physical attack on someone's religious beliefs, and that is unacceptable. As a society, we must act to prevent such things.

As to your question, yes, I think justice should be served. That is also right and proper.

Should extra weight be given to the fact that they are churches? Yes, I think so. I would hate to see them in jail for their entire lives, that seems a bit extreme, but they should have some extra tacked on above what one might otherwise get.

despite our many differences [worldview-wise]... I still respect the objectivity in most of your posts. Your civility is a welcomed sight.

[coyotes_geek]

There is an obvious difference between burning down an abandoned building and one that happens to be unoccupied at the moment of arson. You're being disingenuous in your approach. Abandoned =/= Unoccupied.

Exactly.

[ohmwrecker]

Your point that victimization is solely a function of occupancy is ridiculous. You should be avoiding that point too.

Nope. My point was and remains, arson is a hate crime. Period. The fact that it was a church should have no bearing on the punishment of the perpetrator.

[ohmwrecker]

Hey... you're the one implying that there are no victims simply because no one as physically harmed.

Your point that victimization is solely a function of occupancy is ridiculous. You should be avoiding that point too.

That statement is being taken out of context and being used as the crux of your argument against my point. There is your strawman.

[Roddy Beaubois]

crofl at all the people getting upset. I'm not gonna lose any sleep over this. They could be sentenced to death for all I care.
And im not religious at all.

[BlackSwordsMan]

Only God can judge me.

[ploto]

Anyone remember what the sentence was for the guy who set fire to all those churches on the Northwest side of San Antonio? I don't have the time to look it up.

[blizz]

crofl at all the people getting upset. I'm not gonna lose any sleep over this. They could be sentenced to death for all I care.
And im not religious at all.

Exactly...what's done is done. All you ing about it is not going to lessen the sentence. I'm glad they got what they got, serves them right. If it was 10 years per incident (arson, hate crime, whatnot), and they had 5 counts, that's 50 years. Might as well be life so it.