Vick and dog fighting Part II

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I agree with what you say.

Originally Posted By: albeitmyself there has to be such a thing as a relative scale of punishment for relative evils. I agree with you there. I think there need to be harsher punishments when it comes to child molesters and rapists. Though a fault I see is I don't see child molesters, at least in the news I see reported, only getting probation. But that's beside the point.One of the reason the whole Vick thing bothers me, besides the obvious, is that fact cruelty to animals can often times lead to other cruelty behavior. Many mass murders have all admitted that they first experimented/killed animals before leading to humans. So many people are so easy to dismiss and say “Oh it’s only animals”, when in the long scheme of things it can lead to so much more. Imagine if Jeffrey Domers parents took it more serious when their young son was killing neighborhood animals and got him help at an early age… perhaps things would have turned out different. Granted this could be an extreme situation for this case, but it’s still something that sticks out to me. After having a day to really think about it, I suppose 23 months is enough as long as he actually serves the full 23 months. Again, though, I seriously hope he gives a lot of thought to the poor animals he tortured and murdered and seriously feels remorse for his actions, not about losing his football career because he only has himself to blame for that.

Ha! I was just doing some more reading and looks like Vick screwed himself and that's why he got a 23 months sentence. He origianlly would have only received 12-18 months (Most likely the lesser) but instead he didn't cooperate fully with the investigation and also did drugs after promising he would not.

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Vick should have faced a sentence of 12-18 months after accepting a plea deal to conspiracy charges in August and promising full cooperation, honesty and to "make better decisions."

Instead he made more bad ones, U.S. Attorneys claiming he failed to fully admit or take responsibility for his actions, practiced multiple counts of deception and tested positive for marijuana just weeks after promising the judge he'd avoid drugs.

Those mind-numbing mistakes not only sent his sentencing guidelines to 18-24 months, but played a part in Judge Henry Hudson's decision to lean on the high side and send him away for 23 months. Even with good behavior and time served he won't be released until around June 2009.

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No matter what you think of the crime, the prosecution or the punishment, everyone knows that when given the chance to work the legal system for leniency you don't just turn and spit in its eye.

The failed drug test alone was inexplicable. Just 17 days after promising to avoid drugs and alcohol, Vick smoked marijuana. The next day he took a drug test, which he failed, and then lied to an investigator about taking drugs.

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Then there were Vick's "deception" with federal authorities, at least six such acts according to U.S. Attorney Michael Gill, even after the suspended Atlanta Falcon had agreed to fully cooperate.

Vick, for instance, initially refused to admit he took part in the hanging of a dog. He claimed instead that he carried the underperforming dog over to co-conspirator Quanis Phillips, who then hung him. But Phillips had stated that Vick had carried the dog over and after Phillips slipped a noose around its neck, Vick let the dog drop.

"He denied having hands on involvement in killing the dogs," Gill said. "He made a false statement; it was a calculated effort to hide the truth."

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If Vick had fully cooperated, told the truth and kept clear of drugs, he could have received as little as 12 months, which with good behavior could have seen him free by next September.

Instead he got longer sentences than either of his two former partners (18 and 21 months) despite their prior records and direct responsibilities with Bad Newz Kennels.

Those were just some of the finer points. The full Article can be found
HERE

I think he got what he deserved.

I am so sick of people saying 'this shows dogs have more value than people.' That's BS. The only reason this has gotten so much attention is because he is so famous. If it had been an average Joe the guy would have gotten away with probation and fines. It's the same as one person killing someone and getting a year in prison and someone else killing someone and getting life. Our justice system is fucked up.

Vick killed animals by hanging and drowning them. Not to mention, the whole dog fighting business is **illegal **. What do you think would be an appropriate punishment? Perhaps spending two years in prison and losing his multi-million dollar contract will teach him a lesson.

i dont think Eddie was trying to say they should prosecute him for a mass murder committed 5 years and 6 months from now starting at 11:35 am, just that people shouldnt brush off things like this so easily just because theyre animals, simply because of the precursor to murder and everything

Yeah, because dog fighting is ONLY cruel to animals, it has no effect on people... Oh wait..... Except... All those people who get mauled or killed by vicious dogs; dogs who were MADE vicious by the people who "train" them to fight.

Originally Posted By: Danteki dont think Eddie was trying to say they should prosecute him for a mass murder committed 5 years and 6 months from now starting at 11:35 am, just that people shouldnt brush off things like this so easily just because theyre animals, simply because of the precursor to murder and everything Thats exactly what I meant. And A.W. I think the judge was dead on. Though I also don't think it's smart for kids to have role models that are celebrities, lets be realistic and understand kids do. He should apologize to his fans, and the younger generation that looked up to him.

well then again, why is it not smart? just because theyre famous doesnt mean theyre all fucked up worthless slabs of entertainment, i mean if a kid wants to be a pro football player then why shouldnt he look up to a professional football player? its just good strategy to emulate someone whos already made it, i mean im sure some famous actors are actually decent people, not just pretending like they are for the PR, id actually trust a normal celebrity type person to be decent, if that person is there in the thicket of debauchery day in and day out and is still just a nice person with good morals and still pulling down millions a picture then that is an acceptable someone to idolize ya know?if it was his idea and thats the way he actually is, id idolize Mike Rowe from dirty jobs, showing people that those jobs may not be too desirable but they are essential to civilized life thus those people shouldnt be ridiculed so he'd be a good example

just because theyre famous doesnt mean theyre all fucked upNot all, bust a large majority of them are fucked up.

well yeah thats true, its just kinda close minded (of the people who said it) to say its stupid to idolize any celebrity, actors who are worth idolizing would be the ones who yes, were born with a talent and cultivated it into a very lucrative career, but also didnt let that lifestyle change them for the worse,and the same would apply to professional athletes they were born with a talent that they worked on throughout the years and attained a very lucrative career, and as long as they remain good people,how are they not someone worthy of emulating? also considering not all parents are worth idolizing, nor all religious figures