General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMark David Chapman will remain in prison.
http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/parole-denied-yet-again-for-lennons-killerLiberalElite
(14,691 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)Huzzah!
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)Trust me, NO ONE was more crushed on the morning of December 9, 1980 upon hearing the news. I was too young to be an original Beatles fan (I was 15 in 1980), but I grew up hearing my older siblings crank their albums. That made me a Beatlemaniac by the late 70's.
But, 34 years for a murder committed while mentally ill may be a bit much.
raven mad
(4,940 posts)And has been deemed still dangerous to others. He killed for kicks. Should we let Manson out, too?
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)...as I am not a professional who deals with mental illness or criminal matters.
That said, Manson killed several people 45 years ago. Chapman killed one. Regardless of either's capacity to kill more or less at the time, the fact remains that Chapman killed one person 34 years ago.
If you have access to both of their medical/correctional records and can lend a professional opinion on both, please let us know.
raven mad
(4,940 posts)And the Parole Board determined that he is still dangerous. I agree with them. He killed for kicks and shits and giggles and recognition. He got it.
I'm not arguing with your position on mental health. The last really nasty murder we had here was an obviously psychopathic individual who slaughtered (literally) a mental health nurse who was escorting him, unrestrained, to a neighboring facility and a dental appointment. He went to a better facility. She went to a grave.
boguspotus
(286 posts)Knock it off.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)At least I don't think Manson killed anyone.
He was just a very scary man with the power to influence what had been seemingly normal kids to do shockingly evil things.
GReedDiamond
(5,316 posts)...but Chapman rejected that defense and entered a guilty plea with the court.
As a result, he has been imprisoned ever since, and prison is where he should stay until he's dead, IMO.
Sorry, but I cannot find any sympathy for Chapman, and I do not feel he deserves to ever be freed, for any reason.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)The crimes took place 15 months apart and the circumstances are very similar. One outcome was different that the other, but both could've gone either way.
GReedDiamond
(5,316 posts)...for 17 day visits, each month, to his mother's house.
Here is a HuffPost article about that.
Unlike Chapman, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Hinckley has supposedly been free of his mental illness for "decades" - see the end of the HuffPost article linked above.
Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about that, but, I do not believe that the Chapman/Hinckley cases are comparable.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)GReedDiamond
(5,316 posts)...who comments that Chapman was a sociopath, not necessarily mentally ill.
In Hinckley's case, having been judged not guilty by insanity, he was committed to a hospital where he received decades of therapy for his illness.
If it's true that his mental illness has been in recession for decades, as Hinckley's attorney asserts, than it would seem reasonable to start letting him out, under the conditions set forth by the court.
I would not choose to associate with him, though, if the "opportunity" came up.
kwolf68
(7,365 posts)Are you fucking kidding me?
He took away a man's life...Lennon may still be here today writing great songs and inspiring a new generation. We don't know what John could have accomplished.
Chapman can burn in fuckng hell.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)...and, in all fairness, that response might be my own, but my mentor John Lennon taught me to look towards love and forgiveness when faced with anger and hate. Think to yourself... WWJLD?
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)But should the penalty for murder be higher when the victim is a creative genius than if the victim works on a factory production line or is homeless?
raven mad
(4,940 posts)Legal defense is tricky. Should Manson have been given an out because he is a psychopath? Nope. He didn't plead that way, though.
I wish, however, that there were NO victims of selfish, self-involved, uncaring sociopaths out for their own gratification and ego, like Mark David Chapman.
And when he dies, I'll pee on his grave. Sorry. He murdered my childhood/adulthood hero.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)petronius
(26,603 posts)this case it seems possible that the identity/status of the victim is carrying undue weight, and to the extent that that happens, it's a shame...
conservaphobe
(1,284 posts)That's the point of a life sentence.
No murderer should never have a chance at parole.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)conservaphobe
(1,284 posts)Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)...it's clearly not learned or earned.
RunAwayGranny
(12 posts)Good! He's right where he belongs. He needs to stay there 'til he leaves in a pine box.
raven mad
(4,940 posts)We argue about everything; I'd opt for cremation so that his remains are GONE.
RunAwayGranny
(12 posts)Won't argue with that. I like it. Gone would be best.
DinahMoeHum
(21,809 posts)Last edited Sat Aug 23, 2014, 05:33 PM - Edit history (1)
You can bet your ass Yoko and Sean will never ever consent to turning him loose on society, because if he were to show a hair of his a-hole outside of prison, well, let's just say there are bounty hunters out there.
BeyondGeography
(39,379 posts)Fuck you, Mark.
Rhiannon12866
(206,004 posts)Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)unreadierLizard
(475 posts)Until they kill someone they love, then they want them locked up and/or executed for life.
The great double standard. "I'm against harsh punishments EXCEPT FOR YOU YOU KILLED JOHN LENON I DONT CARE IF YOU'RE MENTALLY ILL ROT FOREVER YAAAY oh no that double murderer pedophile is being denied parole we have to help him!"
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)I don't care if you're legally nuts, not legally nuts, pissed off, not pissed off, in a passion, in a rage, whatever. Mental illness is NO EXCUSE for murder.
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Between that and Reagan, 1980 sucked ass.
NBachers
(17,136 posts)samsingh
(17,601 posts)samsingh
(17,601 posts)Aristus
(66,462 posts)muttering to himself: "It totally wasn't worth it, man..."
The shit people do when they don't think about the consequences...