Stephanie S.

This is a subject brought up in another thread.
My assertation is that fear of punishment does not deter crime.

Both locally and globally I think that on the whole, humans act criminally out of passion, moral and/or religious belief, drug induced (perpetuated by prohibition) crime, sex offendenses, murders..happen without fear of punishment. The recidivism rates in this country are clear evidence that having once been in prison doesn't stop a person from walking out of the prison walls and committing another felony.

Murder is a violent act of passion, much of the time. Armed robbery is an act of desperation and stupidity. When one is desperate is he really thinking of jail time? Narcotics addiction and need for the drug will overcome any fear of punishment if the jones is bad enough.

Globally, I just don't see how any country intimidating and attacking another is going to instill a message of fear in terrorists worldwide. These people are acting from a completely different mentality than the rest of the world. The radical Muslims have built their organizations by repressing their women and by trying to intimidate others through acts of violence...all in the name of Allah. The U.S. does not fight based upon a religious mentality, right? Well they do, and nothing we do is going to instill any sense of fear in them. They are on a trip to heaven when they die. It is a blessing for them to die in the name of jihad.

I don't think that it is possible to rid the war of terrorists or local car theives.
They are what they are often, even after being punished or threatened with punishment, they repeat the same thing that got them into trouble in the first place.

What do you think? Does fear of punishment keep you from committing crimes? Or is it fear of getting CAUGHT that stops you? Do you think that the U.S. can send a message of fear to terrorists, a threat of punishment and will it work?


peace

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"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." —George W. Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 (Listen to audio)