In Favor of the Death Penalty

Twenty one years - that is the maximum sentence mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik can get for killing about one hundred people in Oslo and Utoya Island under Norwegian law. Since he is only 32 years old, his chances of becoming a free man one day are very high. This vile domestic terrorist should spend the rest of his life in prison, at the very least. In fact, he deserves to be executed.

The death penalty is very problematic, and should rarely be used. Some say the government shouldn't kill people, no matter who they are. Others are worried about executing the wrong person. I disagree with the former argument. As for mistakes - only those who are murderers without any doubt should be sentenced to death. If you are only 99.9% sure someone is guilty, send him to life in prison.

There is absolutely no doubt that Breivik committed the murders, at least the ones at the youth camp. Too bad he won't be given the same treatment as Timothy McVeigh.

Israel's Criminal Sentencing Standards

In the next few minutes, Moshe Katsav, the convicted rapist and former president of Israel, will receive a much easier sentence than he deserves. The maximum sentence he can get is sixteen years. There is no minimum, since the law requiring at least four years for rape was passed after Katsav committed his crimes. Israel's sentencing standards for violent crimes, especially rape, are ridiculously low. On average, rapists get 4-8 years in prison, and that's before one third is knocked off for good behavior.

Members of the Knesset would do Israel a great service if they worked on new minimum and maximum sentencing laws instead of dealing in racist or esoteric issues. A rapist should get at least fifteen years. If it were up to me, the maximum would be a life sentence, but I'd be happy with 25 years as well.