01-02-2014, 04:23 PM
This guy coulda sucker punched anybody, user. He chose a 79 year-old man, not a fit middle aged dude or someone he could expect to just bounce back or put up any kind of defense. He preyed on the most vulnerable. The victim Barrett chose coulda died from a punch so hard that it broke his jaw in two places, given the victim's age.
People who abuse the elderly disgust me and I don't put much past them if left to their own devices. I'd like to see Barrett get 10 years because I think he deserves it.
However, if the "hate crime" classification won't stand up and a simple assault charge is more appropriate, a few years behind bars (if that's the max for the assault) will be better than probation or an acquittal and will have to do.
I do agree with you that too many people are put away for too long in the US. It's good to therefore see that mandatory drug sentences for limited possession have been lowered to citations in several states, long sentences for drugs and non-violent offenses are being reduced and many early releases have recently been granted, etc... Reduce the incarceration of the non-violent to make room for the violent, IMO - Barrett is violent and not a stupid kid. He's a 27-year-old man.
People who abuse the elderly disgust me and I don't put much past them if left to their own devices. I'd like to see Barrett get 10 years because I think he deserves it.
However, if the "hate crime" classification won't stand up and a simple assault charge is more appropriate, a few years behind bars (if that's the max for the assault) will be better than probation or an acquittal and will have to do.
I do agree with you that too many people are put away for too long in the US. It's good to therefore see that mandatory drug sentences for limited possession have been lowered to citations in several states, long sentences for drugs and non-violent offenses are being reduced and many early releases have recently been granted, etc... Reduce the incarceration of the non-violent to make room for the violent, IMO - Barrett is violent and not a stupid kid. He's a 27-year-old man.