Now that we are back on the thread -
as a parent of three daughters, my instinct is to agree with all the reighteous anger and venom that always accompanies any question to do with this man but -
as I have said many times before, and I keep banging on because I believe it to be true -
laws are what make us civilised, and avoid the vigilante approach that would lead to utter anarchy.
If we take the 'rough justice' argument to its logical conclusion, where do we wnd up? As 'Dirty Harry' so memorably said - "Next thing is, you execute your neighbour because his dog pees on your lawn ..." and who decides who weilds the sticks and ropes? Simply to be outraged by the callpous acts of an insane mind does not give you carte blanche to go around dolling out your own summary rought justice.
I am particularly irritated by every buffoon who appears yelling and mooning in the streets after too much alcohol, and in my mind, they deserve to be beaten sober, but does that make it right, or appropriate?
In a democracy, we make laws that protect the innocent, and if they also protect the guilty, that is not justification for abandoning them.
Our society is a long way from perfect, but these simple black and white 'kill'em all, let God sort 'em out' attitudes only work if you happen to side with the side dishing out the 'justice'.
Timothy Evans - ring any bells?