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Show "Justice for all" System questioned It sure is comforting to have the United States judicial system on our side. With the acquittal of John W. Hinckley Hin-ckley Jr. this past week, many of my long-held fears concerning what would happen if I did something unusually bizarre were quickly dashed on the rocks of "liberty and justice for all" even the insane. This decision brought great comfort to myself and also, I'm sure, to many other crazies running around. Knowing that I could get away with anything including attempting to murder a president and merely get a slap on the wrist because I obviously wasn't playing with a full deck, has brought much relief. Now, don't misunderstand me, I'm basically republican in my political philosophies and don't intend to do anything close to what Hickley at- fMike Cannon tempted; but what if I did do something a little weird? Let's suppose I braided the hair on my ears, or maybe painted my eyebrows fluorescent orange. In a fit of rage I could drive my car too. fast or break a neighbor's window. Or maybe I could do something seriously serious. Whatever the case, based on recent legal precedent, I would have the assurance of knowing that the legal pendulum has swung far to the extreme in defending the rights of criminals-while criminals-while the rights of victims and the large majority of innocent citizens are largely ignored. This recent trend in our, and I stress our and not the judges and lawyers, legal system is frightening and even nauseating. It concerns me as a father of young children that lawlessness is too often condoned and almost encouraged en-couraged because of the absurdity of some court decisions. There are many good people sitting in judicial seats and working as attorneys. Quite some time ago, I paid tribute in a r - column to Fifth District Court Judge J. Harlan Burns. There are many good people like him working as judges and attorneys, and indeed both my own grandfathers were lawyers. I respect good men in these and other positions, but the system is presently an entanglement en-tanglement of red tape and miniscule technicalities often resulting in nothing resembling justice. I certainly don't know the answers to our problem, and they are complex and not easily implemented; but speedier trials, stiffer bail and more stringent sentencing would certainly be a fairly immediate and effective beginning. An associate who worked for several years at the Utah State Penitentiary laughed at the word rehabilitation. There is no such thing in our penal system. Prisons are a school for crime; .and a place to put those unfit for , ' society. Sounds terrible to say it, but some people are just plain unfit to mingle in society. The courts seem too often to forget the 99 percent of decent people who should be protected from those who can't cope, for whatever the reason. Hinckley tried to kill somebody, in this case the president. Regardless of . his motive or the condition of his mind, he committed an act which is worthy of punishment. Instead, he will prbbably : be free in 50 days, a "rehabilitated" man. The whole thing sure serves as a deterrent to other crazies running around loose. Like I said, it sure is good to have the American judicial system on our side the side of all us crazies, that is. |