Oh no, I totally agree, Phantom
As a society, we do pretty well, and a person who commits such deeds effectively removes themselves from society, so we lock them up away from it. A lot of the time we try to do it so that eventually they can be brought back in to it - and if you're not going to hang people for fraud, stealing, driving without a license, then this is what you have to do. That's not soft, it's just logic.

But some crimes, like this, warrant permanent removal. I think we all agree with that.

The only onus I put on the justice system is to do its job well, choosing the right punishment for the crime, etc etc. The justice system exists so that each crime is looked at objectively, with passion, loud voices and braying mob removed, so that the rabid dog ends up being put down with society's conscience clean. It's just unfortunate that this country doesn't give the justice system the teeth it needs to do its job properly in cases like these.
(MrOli is ugly, but in the morning you will be sober, Thu 11 Mar 2010, 8:34, Reply)