May 9, 2012Dear Sir,Any judge who gives a criminal an easy sentence instead of recognising that that “thug” isn’t helping society in any way is about as bad as that “thug”.He is sending a message that says it’s cool for that “thug” to go around and steal even though he’s a known drug addict who does nothing but irritate people and exploit money from them. If that’s not bad enough, that ‘thug’ tends to hang around areas he doesn’t even live in just to try and intimidate others. They might intimidate their parents but, like the guy that got beaten from around Loyal Hill for stealing, vigilantes will step up if judges step down.Yes, criminals who kill and are walking the prisons and controlling the prisons are dangerous, but judges who ease up on those who simply just steal don’t really know what law is.In the past, such individuals were stoned to death. In some Middle Eastern countries, such a person that stole and was found guilty of the crime had his or her hands sliced off. Bermuda isn’t that bloody but why can’t Bermuda have such LAWS that were so hard core that if an evil person were to commit a vicious crime and was found guilty, he or she would wish they didn’t.In Malaysia, such a crook would get “flogged” in front of people. And if such a crime happened between 7pm-6am, they received double the amount (talk about leaving serious scars on a two-legged demon).So basically, this only giving a drug addict who doesn’t have much of a life so they literally go around robbing people, exploiting that person of their money, a light sentence of four years, is a waste of time (remember he or she isn’t helping anybody outside of prison so the sentence, ought to be more than four years). Am I saying such a crook should spend close to what a person who kills should receive?No, a person who kills on purpose should receive: A 30-35-year sentenceIf they kill by accident: 15 yearsIf they were caught with hard drugs: 12 yearsIf they were stealing and they’re known drug addicts with a pattern of committing crimes on end: 11 years easy (that “thug” isn’t helping him or herself since they feel “drugs” are cool and stealing from people is a thrill). Victims shouldn’t be made to go through life saying “Only four years?” That ‘thug’ should get the following:1. Dragged out into the middle of Front Street, naked, and ‘flogged’ in front of people from all over the Island.2. Forced to spend a long time in prison (if such a thug doesn’t change after five years, keep him or her in longer).Some might wonder if the crime was a little bit of ‘weed’: Five years.If just a little ‘speck’: A fine of $500 to $1,000 depending on how the judge feels.WAITING FOR TRUE JUSTICEDevonshire