May 5, 2009
Crime and Punishment Department
Getting Tough on Minority Crime
A few days ago, Scott Greenfield pointed out this paragraph in a New York Times article about Obama's thinking about law and justice:
[W]hen it came to sentencing laws, Mr. Obama led [student Adam] Bonin in a more conservative direction than the student had expected. The primary victims of black criminals were fellow blacks -- and so minority neighborhoods had an interest in keeping sentencing laws tough, he taught.
How is it that so many people---including smart people with experience in the inner city like Barack Obama---can talk about victims and sentencing and not notice that an awful lot of tough sentences are imposed for crimes that have no victims? Is that distinction---which looms so large in my own world view---just of concern for libertarians? Does everyone else really think the absence of victims makes no difference?
It's like being in one of those horror movies where only I can see that the mysterious strangers have horns and fangs. Can anybody out there hear me screaming?
2 Comments
Leave a comment
.
Mark,
I am no libertarian, but I share your concerns over the zealous prosecution of victimless crimes as well as over-reaching laws such as emminent domain.
Your blog does a service by making people more aware of these types of things. You've certainly opened my eyes a number of times.
I see the horns and fangs. Keep screaming.
Gary
Hah! Thanks, Gary.