An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right
Loughner Ruled Non Competent
Not exactly a stunning decision by the judge but he has ruled that Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner is not competent to stand trial.
This will most probably result in his being sent to a mental hospital for a long long time. Although I am generally a law and order kind of guy, this seems a reasonable ruling. The man is clearly deranged and we do not punish people with prison for acts they have no control over.
3 Responses to “Loughner Ruled Non Competent”
I’m inclined to agree but with a caveat – I often disagree with some of my liberal friends because I believe that some people are simply too broken to be fixed. If not a jail cell he should spend the rest of his life in a padded one.
I’m not sure what Ron’s comment means, but I agree with what you wrote, Patrick.
Kathy
Ron, it really depends on the mental problem. Some problems are becoming more fixable.
It seems that these questions of moral responsibility get harder to answer with the more we discover about the brain.
Things were easier when evil people were just evil, but that simply isn’t always the truth.