PanAM Flight 103
Late last week the Justice Dept. of Scotland released the person convicted of blowing up PanAm Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland and killing 270 people. The reason given for the release was that the Scottish legal system incorporates into its essence a sense of compassion and mercy. Compassion and mercy were called for, according to the Dept. of Justice spokesperson, because the terrorist was nearing death from prostate cancer. The bomber was flown home to Lybia where he was received as a hero. Much of the world is up in arms over the release and reception of this terrorist.
First, let me say that any legal system that incorporates compassion and mercy into its approach to convicted persons is on the right track. I hope the legal system in the United States does that. However, I must say secondly that it was a mistake to release this particular prisioner. It is a fact that many people haved died in prison in Scotland while serving life sentences. I presume that in each case they were treated with compassion, and maybe mercy as their life drew to a close in the prison environment. Why could that have not been the case for this man?
When someone makes a choice to commit a crime one must be ready to suffer the consequences if caught. Actions have consequences. This heinous crime of mass murder certainly ought to have dire consequences for the perpetrator. He should have spent his life in prison, without parole or release. Was there political pressure of some kind to release him? I do not know but it seems that something more than what we know at present was at work in this case. I doubt there is any way to get the man back to prison in Scotland, but it would be good to at least get the truth about why he was released.
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Anna Antonini said:
Welcome back to the “blogosphere”! Anna