By Tom Kando
This Fall, Californians will vote on Proposition 36. This would change the state’s 1994 Three-Strikes Law. Currently, the law stipulates 25–to-life prison terms for offenders who commit any third crime after having already committed two previous serious or violent felonies. The third crime can be ANY minor crime defined as a felony.
The Sacramento Bee (September 24, 2012) provides two examples:
Ronald Koroush’s recent third strike
was to receive stolen property, namely a used mirror. His female neighbor is
accusing him of having stolen the mirror, whereas Koroush claims that he found
the mirror leaning against a telephone
pole next to his trash cans. In any event, his
bail has been set at $1 million
and he now qualifies for a
25-to-life sentence.
Aaron Collins’ third strike was
possession of marijuana in his
prison cell, in 1995. For this, he has remained in prison for the past 17 years,
with no end in sight.
Compare this to what happened to
Anders Breivik, in Norway: He murdered 77 children last year, to preserve
Norway’s racial purity. His victims were Norwegians, but they were attending a camp which belonged to a political party disliked by
Breivik. For this, the man received a maximum sentence of 21 years, but
he may only have to serve a minimum of 10.
Who is nuttier here, Norway or
California? leave comment here
