I get SO angry when I hear about some jackass pleading not guilty to a crime, by reason of "insanity". How stupid is that? Would some idiot walk into a neighborhood grocery store and blow the owner's head off if they weren't insane? People who commit unspeakable crimes are (at least by my definition) doing something pretty **** crazy. That doesn't exclude them from paying the price for what they've done. It doesn't make them not guilty. It doesn't make me feel sorry for them. People don't want to be responsible for their own actions--they do something horrible, they get caught, and then (whoops!) they realize there's nobody else, nothing else to point the finger of blame at. So out pops the handy-dandy insanity plea.
Now, don't think I'm knocking the mentally ill here. Quite the contrary--you see, all these dorks going around claiming insanity are making the public think this is what mental illness is. Don't confuse mental illness with this "insanity" crap. See, mental illness is just that--an illness. It's dealt with by doctors, however it's able to be dealt with. Just like any physical illness. Insanity (the kind referred to in the pleas), on the other hand, is a character flaw, largely made up of amorality, apathy, and anger. These people don't care if their actions hurt you. They probably even like it that way. That's what makes them insane. And that's why the words "Not guilty by reason of insanity" make my skin crawl.
And don't even get me STARTED on "temporary insanity."
If insanity means not guilty, we may as well empty the prisons. Whoever came up with that stupid plea was no doubt insane himself. It's time to quit letting the insane have so much power. They're the ones who deserve it least.
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by hermanm on May 08, 2001 at 02:28 PM]</font>
Now, don't think I'm knocking the mentally ill here. Quite the contrary--you see, all these dorks going around claiming insanity are making the public think this is what mental illness is. Don't confuse mental illness with this "insanity" crap. See, mental illness is just that--an illness. It's dealt with by doctors, however it's able to be dealt with. Just like any physical illness. Insanity (the kind referred to in the pleas), on the other hand, is a character flaw, largely made up of amorality, apathy, and anger. These people don't care if their actions hurt you. They probably even like it that way. That's what makes them insane. And that's why the words "Not guilty by reason of insanity" make my skin crawl.
And don't even get me STARTED on "temporary insanity."
If insanity means not guilty, we may as well empty the prisons. Whoever came up with that stupid plea was no doubt insane himself. It's time to quit letting the insane have so much power. They're the ones who deserve it least.
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by hermanm on May 08, 2001 at 02:28 PM]</font>
