Confessed mass killer Anders Behring Breivik was insane when he killed 77 people in a bomb and shooting rampage in Norway, and should be sent to a psychiatric ward instead of prison, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Actually, I agree that he was insane. The mass murder of immigrants, even illegal aliens, is the act of an insane person. But, the problem is two-fold: first, is there any reason not to imprison an insane criminal instead of hospitalizing them; and second, the EU, of which Norway is a member, bans capital punishment.
I would argue that Timothy McVeigh was insane. But I don't think that insanity relieves mass-murderers of the debt owed to society for their crimes. McVeigh was properly executed. If the member nations of the EU had any glandular fortitude remaining, they would execute this guy, insane or not. It's not really about punishment, since they may or may not even be able to conceive of the notion of punishment or right and wrong. These people are rabid dogs, and they need to be put down, not stored in a kennel for the rest of their natural days.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
The whole criminal insanity thing is self fulfilling. You can be sane and steal a pack of gum. Or you can be insane and steal a pack of gum. You can't however be sane and murder large numbers of people like this guy IMO. Like Andrea yates being declared insane. Of course she was insane!! How do you do something like this and not be insane?
Of course he is insane. To methodically kill children you have to be insane. That does not mean he should not spend the rest of his days behind bars (barring execution). He was sane enough to plan this out and methodically commit a terrible crime. What about justice for those children and their families. Norway should be ashamed of itself. When justice is thwarted the people weep.
SAHM to four precious children. Wife to a loving husband.
"The women of this country learned long ago those without swords can still die upon them!" Eowyn in LOTR Two Towers
