Norway Loony. Why the surprise?

[Schneibster]

I don't think they're in the same league of insanity.

Think of all the people who kill others and nobody gives a thought about their sanity. The body count racked up by drug cartels in Mexico is astonishing, but nobody is saying they must be insane. Apparently, having a profit motive makes you ruthless but still sane when you kill lots of people, but having a political motive makes you ruthless but insane when you do something similar.

No, no, you misunderstand me.

Sure they're all insane. What I'm pointing out is that the ones that sell drugs are treated as not-insane, when they're at least as insane (killing people for profit) as Breivik (killing people for political gain). And Breivik is actually more insane; at least the way you seem to see it. Yet...

I see them all as equally insane. And I'm not telling you that stopping them, and using lethal force if necessary, is wrong.

Just talking about what happens after. When they can't do it anymore and society has its hands on the handles.

[JimC]

I don't think they're in the same league of insanity.

Think of all the people who kill others and nobody gives a thought about their sanity. The body count racked up by drug cartels in Mexico is astonishing, but nobody is saying they must be insane. Apparently, having a profit motive makes you ruthless but still sane when you kill lots of people, but having a political motive makes you ruthless but insane when you do something similar.

Good point.

Anyway, as Warren said earlier, the vital point is preventing future crimes of this nature. Clever, twisted guys like him can convince shrinks in 5 yesrs time that they're cured and contrite, be released, and plan another big hit.

Lock him up for life, for the safety of the public; punishment doesn't need to come into it in the slightest.