r/nottheonion • u/DerangedUnicorn27 • 6d ago

Convicted child rapist qualifies for Olympics

https://www.newsweek.com/steven-van-de-velde-dutch-beach-volleyball-olympics-1918442
19.3k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

37

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.

-9

u/tlollz52 6d ago

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

3

u/John3Fingers 6d ago

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

0

u/tlollz52 6d ago

So you believe in the death penalty?

1

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.

1

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.

1

u/John3Fingers 5d ago

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

1

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