Off with their thumbs!

[Sojourner]

[url="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1278411"]Here's the story[/url]:

RENO, Nev. Nov 3, 2005 — Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has suggested that those who deface freeways with graffiti should have their thumbs cut off on television.

Goodman, appearing Wednesday on the "Nevada Newsmakers" television show, said, "In the old days in France, they had beheading of people who commit heinous crimes.

"You know, we have a beautiful highway landscaping redevelopment in our downtown. We have desert tortoises and beautiful paintings of flora and fauna. These punks come along and deface it.

"I'm saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb," the mayor added. "That may be the right thing to do."

Goodman also suggested that whippings or canings should be brought back for children who get into trouble.

"I also believe in a little bit of corporal punishment going back to the days of yore, where examples have to be shown," Goodman said.

"I'm dead serious," said Goodman, adding, "Some of these (children) don't learn. You have got to teach them a lesson, and this is coming from a criminal defense lawyer."

"They would get a trial first," he added.

Another panelist on the show, Howard Rosenberg, a state university system regent, responded by saying that cutting off the thumbs of taggers won't solve the problem and Goodman should "use his head for something other than a hat rack."

[zabbazooey]

[quote]Another panelist on the show, Howard Rosenberg, a state university system regent, responded by saying that cutting off the thumbs of taggers won't solve the problem and Goodman should "use his head for something other than a hat rack."
[/quote]

[philothea]

"They would get a trial first" No kidding.

I really don't know what to think. I am fine with the caning, and such... but dang. Losing a thumb in public sounds excessive.

OTOH, I bet graffiti would stop fast!

[Sojourner]

[quote name='zabbazooey' date='Nov 4 2005, 11:18 AM']
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I also loved the hat rack comment.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='philothea' date='Nov 4 2005, 11:19 AM']OTOH, I bet graffiti would stop fast!
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That's true. It could well be an effective deterrent.

[zabbazooey]

it would be very effective

[Jaime]

You should have heard what he wanted to do to the people who were publically urinating

[tojo]

Since the Church forbids bodily mutilation, de-thumbing must be considered morally wrong.

[beatty07]

can you imagine the ratings?

you could make a reality show where they all compete and the winner gets pardoned and keeps their thumbs.

Then we could build this big round stadium and have fights in it between criminals and lions, and stuff like that! We could call it the Colosseum!! I love this idea!!! What could go wrong?

[prose]

[quote]You should have heard what he wanted to do to the people who were publically urinating[/quote]

[philothea]

[quote name='beatty07' date='Nov 4 2005, 11:40 AM']can you imagine the ratings?

you could make a reality show where they all compete and the winner gets pardoned and keeps their thumbs. 

Then we could build this big round stadium and have fights in it between criminals and lions, and stuff like that!  We could call it the Colosseum!!  I love this idea!!!  What could go wrong?
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Smartypants.

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

Shouldn't they cut off the index finger? I know whenever I use an aerosol can I operate it with my index finger. It's akward using your thumb.

[Cow of Shame]

[quote name='1337 k4th0l1x0r' date='Nov 4 2005, 11:51 AM']Shouldn't they cut off the index finger? I know whenever I use an aerosol can I operate it with my index finger.  It's akward using your thumb.
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but if you didn't have a thumb, it would make it MUCH harder to hold the can.

[sweetpea316]

They should make them clean it up before cutting off the thumb too...

[photosynthesis]

you could still get away with spray painting, though. it would be hard, but you could do it.

I would understand the logic behind giving murderers the death penalty, or castrating rapists... but cutting off someone's thumb doesn't seem commensurate with the type of crime. I'd be angry if someone defaced my house, or my office building. But you can re-paint a house/building... I don't think the government should inflict irreversible damage to someone's body when the damage they did was reversible.

[Cow of Shame]

[quote name='photosynthesis' date='Nov 4 2005, 03:58 PM'] or castrating rapists... 
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While on the surface, there are some compelling arguments for this punishment, if you think about it, it sounds really odd coming from a devout Catholic, with the importance on children & reproduction in the church...

[Carrie]

[quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Nov 4 2005, 06:34 PM']While on the surface, there are some compelling arguments for this punishment, if you think about it, it sounds really odd coming from a devout Catholic, with the importance on children & reproduction in the church...
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Not to mention that it doesn't work. Chemical castration only lasts as long as medication is continually taken. Also you can still rape someone even if you're physically castrated.

/hijack

[blovedwolfofgod]

ive always favored two caps to the back of the head, but i will concede to Rome on this one...

But the mayor of Vegas can be my favorite person for the day

[Cow of Shame]

[quote name='Carrie' date='Nov 4 2005, 04:44 PM'] Also you can still rape someone even if you're physically castrated.
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I wonder what the stats are on this, for those who have been (physically) castrated (you could always stop taking your meds...chemical doesn't count)? What's the repeat offense percentages?

[Carrie]

[quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Nov 4 2005, 06:51 PM']I wonder what the stats are on this, for those who have been (physically) castrated (you could always stop taking your meds...chemical doesn't count)?  What's the repeat offense percentages?
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I'm not really sure what the recidivism rates are on offenders that have been chemically or physically castrated. In this country, I think physical catsration is pretty scarce but it does happen when an offender volunteers for it usually.

*this quote is a bit descriptive so if you're easily offended, don't read*


This is from Sex Offenders, Sentencing Laws and Pharmaceutical Treatment: A Presciption for Failure. [i]Behavioral Sciences and the Law 18:83-110[/i] 2000
[quote]Surgical castration does not completely eliminate sexual functioning, and the effects of surgical castration upon libido can be reversed by taking testosterone.  One small study in particular found that 40% of castrates continue to have sexual intercourse within 3 to 7 years after the procedure, while another study found that 50% of castrates had full erections while watching a sex movie within 3 to 5 years after being castrated.[/quote]