Breitbart reports:
"Kentucky Senator Rand Paul's injuries are more serious than previously
reported, following an attack, allegedly by one of his neighbors, last
week in Bowling Green, KY."
"'A medical
update: final report indicates six broken ribs & new X-ray shows a pleural
effusion,' tweeted the Republican senator Wednesday."
"Previous
medical reports stated that Paul suffered five broken ribs and lacerations to
his lungs. Reports indicate a violent attack from Paul's long-time neighbor,
59-year-old retired doctor Rene Boucher, after a dispute. The exact nature of
the dispute remains unclear, but Boucher's lawyer claimed it had nothing to do
with politics."
"Police arrested
Boucher and charged him with fourth-degree assault."
Breitbart also
interviewed several neighbors of Senator Paul. They rejected the story that
Boucher's attack on Paul was the result of a "landscaping dispute."
The neighbors stated the Senator has been a very friendly homeowner, and there
is no record of any complaints either against him or from him in the
homeowner's association files.
The Senator's
injuries are serious. I looked up the definition of 4th degree assault in
Kentucky law, to understand what his alleged assailant is being charged with:
From reference.com:
"According to the Kentucky Legislature Research Commission, fourth degree
assault is defined as intentionally causing a physical injury to another,
wantonly causing physical injury, or recklessly causing injury to another with
a dangerous instrument."
"The Kentucky
Legislature Research Commission lists the possible penalties for fourth degree
assault in Kentucky as fines, jail time and probation. Fines resulting from
fourth degree assault cannot exceed five hundred dollars, and jail time for those
found guilty of fourth degree assault cannot exceed one year. Fourth degree
assault is a misdemeanor, and it is considered the least serious of assault
charges in the state of Kentucky."
"Wantonly
causing physical injury" is the least serious assault charge? And it
carries a maximum of a five hundred dollar fine and a year in jail? And it is a
misdemeanor?
Preposterous.
Of course, when we're
witnessing mass shootings and mass murder with cars, it's easy to view the
attack on Senator Paul as a trivial event. But it's not.
You're mowing the
lawn outside your house. A person sneaks on to your property, runs up behind
you, and attacks you. You had no idea what was coming. As a result of this
vicious and cowardly assault, you suffer six broken ribs and fluid in your
lungs.
And this is a minor
offense?
No, we don't know all
the facts, and the defendant has not yet had his day in court. But assuming the
reports are correct, the misdemeanor charge and the potential punishment are
absurd travesties.
The law has been
twisted to allow grave offenses to become minor episodes. The reason is fairly
clear: so many crime are being committed by so many people, the system has been
adjusted to accommodate criminals.
"Well,"
people say, "what about all the high-level felons who serve in government
and lead corporations, and are never brought to justice?"
What about them? They
too should be charged and convicted and given long prison sentences. Minimizing
one group of offenses because another group of offenses goes unpunished is
egregious bullshit.
If you need living
proof, find a friend and ask him to violently attack you from behind, during
the day, when you least expect it and are unable to defend yourself. Experience
your injuries, and then think about whether this should be a misdemeanor in the
lowest possible assault category.
What about
forgiveness? What about loving your enemies? That's another rationalization
that pops up, now and then, after violent events. If you were the victim, would
you really find it persuasive?
Would you be worried
that having "negative thoughts" about your attacker and experiencing
anger against him might "pollute your consciousness" and affect your
life going forward? Would you rather paste a smile on your face and opt for
marshmallows and rainbows?
Righteous moral
outrage is a positive trait.
In part, The Law was
instituted as an expression of moral outrage. It was supposed to channel that
emotion into avenues of fair retribution.
And at the highest
level, it was supposed to protect an individual citizen's private property and
the safety of his person.
Apparently, in the
case of Senator Paul, both rights were extraordinarily violated.
If current reports of
the attack are true, Rene Boucher should spend a long time behind bars. It's
called justice.
No, Virginia,
everything doesn't belong to everybody in some fantasy of a socialist paradise.
Individual property and person are real. Crimes against them are real. To
demonstrate it, stroll into a bar where there is a very good chance your most
precious possessions---your iPhone and iPad---will be stolen. Later, when
you're lying outside on the sidewalk, think about "everything belonging to
everybody." See how that works for you...
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