When Bryan Stow was nearly beaten to death at a Dodgers' baseball game in 2011, he may have wished he had been killed. The 45-year-old former paramedic was leaving the stadium on March 31st and was attacked from behind by two men, Louis Sanchez and Marvin Norwood. The father of two is now brain damaged and is permanently disabled. His life, as he knew it, is over.
Yesterday, 2/20/2014, the attackers were convicted in a Los Angeles court. Norwood was sentenced to four years with credit for time served. Sanche z smirked while Judge George Lomeli sentenced him to eight years with credit for time served.
Is this a fair sentence? The judge himself told the two men that they were what is wrong with our society, and that they were 'despicable.'
These animals took away another man's life. Their lives should be taken away from them. They should serve life in prison. The bible says 'an eye for an eye,' and this is one time it truly fits.
The United States has become one of the most violent countries in the history of the world. The problem begins with our government, which continually wages illegal wars. In the history of the world only ancient Rome was more warlike. And it has trickled down to the lowest levels of our society.
Eight years of an illegal and destructive presidency divided the nation more than at any other time with the exception of the Vietnam War. When I was a young man, discussion and even argument were appreciated. Now it seems that if someone disagrees with you, you could be physically harmed or even killed .
I do not want men like Norwood and Sanchez in my country and definitely not in my life. A part of the problem is that punishment for serious crimes such as this is minimal. But don't get caught where it's illegal to smoke marijuana; you could receive 25 years.
We must cease to have empathy for violent criminals. They cannot be rehabilitated, and have no place in an intelligent and peaceful society. These two men will undoubtedly commit a similar crime in the future.
James Turnage Op-ed
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