To the Editor:
Re “Norway’s Horror” (editorial, July 26):
I do not generally believe in meddling in another nation’s affairs, but it is impossible to avoid comment on Norway’s criminal-coddling justice system.
Not only does Norway have no capital punishment statute, but it also does not provide for life in prison for any infraction of its laws, not even a crime against humanity like the recent slaughter of 76 people. The maximum prison term is a stunningly lenient 21 years; thus the youth camp mass murderer, 32, could have decades to hurt or kill more people after release from prison in his early 50s.
When ruthless, wicked crimes are not taken seriously by the justice system, the lives of those who were slaughtered are trivialized.
OREN M. SPIEGLER
Upper St. Clair, Pa., July 26, 2011
Note from KBJ: Norway values the lives of murderers more highly than it values the lives of innocent people. Can you think of anything more barbaric?
