class discussion...

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120214/mcguinty-firearm-minimum-120213/


so we just talked about this in my sociology class yesterday. if you read the article, i would definitly agree with the judge. just because the guy had a gun doesnt mean he should be charged for the full three years. yes, he was stupid to do that; and yes, he should be punished. however, it wouldnt make sense if we paid thousands of dollars for this innocent guy to be incarcerated just because a minimum sentence says so. when people go to court, there are several things to consider for sentencing...previous convictions, reasons for having the gun, a statement from the defendant, maybe a sentencing circle or other ways to solve the problem. but there should be different sentences for different people because not everyone is the same...so why should they have the same sentences?!
^exactly