r/nottheonion 6d ago

Convicted child rapist qualifies for Olympics

https://www.newsweek.com/steven-van-de-velde-dutch-beach-volleyball-olympics-1918442
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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/tlollz52 6d ago

Yea this is my beef with so many of the people who want to rip sex offenders for their short sentences. This guy committed a heinous and horrible act. He did the time he was sentenced to. Hopefully he doesn't recommit but we can't really blame him for a lack of punishment.

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u/KriegerClone02 6d ago

That's not what we're blaming him for.

The weak punishments are why the idea that "he paid his debt to society" is spectacularly unconvincing.

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u/tlollz52 6d ago

Hard to quantify how someone can pay their debt to society.

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u/troll_right_above_me 6d ago

Removing him from society would be a surefire way to make sure he doesn't rape another child.

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u/tlollz52 6d ago

I agree. These charges are often too lenient

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u/aheroafaked 6d ago

A good 50 fucking years without parole for raping a 12 year old sounds about right

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u/2canbehumble 6d ago

Or hanging

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u/John3Fingers 6d ago

Some can't. Chomos should be turned into mulch.

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u/tlollz52 6d ago

So you believe in the death penalty?

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u/John3Fingers 6d ago

I don't have a moral problem with it, if that's what you mean. I'm not a theist, I don't think all human life is inherently valuable.

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u/tlollz52 5d ago

I don't believe in the death penalty, not because I view all human life as equal but because I don't believe our justice system to be infallible. I don't trust our justice system to do every investigation to the letter of the law and I believe many plead guilty without actually having never committed a crime. I also believe police can be biased and get tunnel vision when they feel they have the right guy.

This isn't me saying these crimes are charged fairly and most get a proper punishment, but I don't have enough confidence in our justice system for them to pass on judgment in ways of execution, especially for those who have only been convicted of a singular offense.

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u/John3Fingers 5d ago

I guess we should let them out so they can recommit.

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u/tlollz52 5d ago

No just longer sentences, longer probation, court mandated therapy, etc when released. This study shows sex offenders, especially first time sex offenders, have a fairly low rate of recividism l.

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/sx-ffndr-rcdvsm/index-en.aspx?wbdisable=true