[Vision2020] [Bulk] Re: Kevin Coe

Paul Rumelhart godshatter at yahoo.com
Fri Oct 17 16:15:11 PDT 2008


As much as I hate to say it, because I hate being tarred with the 
"defending rapists" brush, Kai's right on this one, at least as far as 
his stance on thought crimes.  He did his time.  We can't put people in 
jail just because we think they might commit crimes.  We can't put them 
in jail even if they say they will commit a crime next chance they get.  
The government can stay out of my head, thank you very much.

What it boils down to is: if he is seriously mentally ill, they should 
be able to put him away for his own good as well as others.  If they 
can't show that, then he has to go free. We either go with the system we 
have or toss it all out the window.  We can't just make an exception 
because we really, really, don't like this guy.

I don't know if Kai was actually suggesting that we put rapists to 
death, but if so I'm against it.  Philosophical issues aside, it's too 
easy to convict the wrong guy.

Paul

Kai Eiselein wrote:
> I, too, have mixed feelings.
> I moved to Spokane, from Montana, shortly after Coe's arrest. The 
> anger in Spokane at this man was palpable and surfaced often during 
> his trial. I believe that same anger is at the core of Coe's 
> commitment trial, due in large part to Coe's apparent lack of remorse 
> or apology for his actions.
> Rather than following a path of treatment, Coe served out his full 
> sentence and remained defiant.
> Coe has served the sentence handed down, 25 years. Not 25 years IF he 
> completed a list of conditions. There was no condition to his release 
> after serving his full term.
> I believe anger at Coe's defiance has led to his continued incarceration.
> Still, Coe is do doubt a dangerous man and a menace to any community.
> BUT>>>
> Are we now sentencing people for crimes we fear they MAY commit? That 
> is the greater question and in essence is what the civil comitment 
> trial was about.
> On the other hand...
> If Coe raped again, what about the victim, who could have been spared?
> I am torn, on one hand I feel it is the "safe" thing to do. On the 
> other, I feel it is a continued punishment on someone who has served 
> the sentence put upon him.
> Frankly, a sentence of death would have avoided all of the above.
>
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