Well guys, I have no problem with the conviction of this man. After 25 years of addiction he had turned to a life of crime.
Had he hurt someone in the commission of those crimes I would have cheerfully given him the 80 year sentence.
If he had killed someone, I could have voted for the death sentence, and come home and gotten a good night's sleep.
But each case is different. The law tied our hands and denied us the use of our own judgement in imposing a sentence. The law doesn't impose sentences this harsh for certain types of manslaughter.
While this law was intended to take dangerous career criminals off the streets, this man's career was only three weeks long when the police took him into custody.
Make no mistake, I have no sympathy for drug dealers, gang-bangers, rapists, murderers or their like. They all fall into the category of "scum" and deserve anything the courts dish out.
But there should always be room within the justice system for basic human judgement and compassion.
Regards, Shuckins