Current Affairs 2024

[Stephen]

How can a minimum of 16 years count as life.

Man jailed for life for Holly Willoughby murder plot https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c19k874r0m2o

[david63]

How can a minimum of 16 years count as life.

Because our prisons are too full and we need to make room for the next batch - anyway under the new rules he will be opt in six and half years

[Mervyn and Trish]

I really think they have this all wrong. Make the sentences lighter, reduce the deterrent, encourage re-offending.

Yes okay maybe for lesser offences. But for serious offences life should mean life. Then animals like this will never re-offend and some of the thugs wandering the streets with knives and machetes might be discouraged in the first place.

[Stephen]

This is where we need screwy’s input because this says different unless I’m missing something.

https://www.gov.uk/types-of-prison-sentence

I agree with what you’re saying David but I would expect under any new early release rules these will be for less serious/dangerous offenders. The point is, why give a life sentence if it doesn’t mean life.

[Onelife]

Give offenders much lighter sentences but laser them every week of their reduced sentence…. they won’t offend again!!

[Mervyn and Trish]

So Israel kills another 71 innocent people while targeting one Hamas commander.

[oldbluefox]

Not disagreeing but I wonder how many of the 71 killed were in fact Hamas fighters. Abhorrent though it is not all would be innocent people and since the figures would be presented by Hamas I wonder how accurate the figure is.
It's a tragic situation for those trapped in Gaza and for those whose loved ones have been taken hostage, plus of course the hostages (if still alive) themselves.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well I'd say most of the women and children probably weren't Hamas fighters.

[oldbluefox]

Possibly not but the responsibility for the carnage lies at the doorstep of both IDF and Hamas and we need to accept a degree of propaganda from both sides.

[Onelife]

Once they eliminate the perpetrators of theses heinous crimes the better…let’s hope this assassination attempt was successful.

[towny44]

Once they eliminate the perpetrators of theses heinous crimes the better…let’s hope this assassination attempt was successful.

I doubt that it will OL, there will always be junior fighters willing and eager to replace those that are killed. And this war will have radicalised many thousands of Gazans, probably swelling their ranks to higher levels than before this current conflict.

[Stephen]

Assassination attempt on Trump at rally.
Nothing like a good bit of reporting calling Trump ‘President Trump’.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cljy6yz ... 4f049#post

[Onelife]

Once they eliminate the perpetrators of theses heinous crimes the better…let’s hope this assassination attempt was successful.

I doubt that it will OL, there will always be junior fighters willing and eager to replace those that are killed. And this war will have radicalised many thousands of Gazans, probably swelling their ranks to higher levels than before this current conflict.

I’m a little more optimistic than you John, but optimism won’t turn into reality until the threat of Hamas has been neutralised and a new governing power is in place. There are many moderate Gazans who with the help of surrounding countries could broker a better way forward for a two-state system with Israel.

[david63]

I'm with John on this - Hamas will never be eliminated in the same way that the IRA has not been eliminated or ISIS has not been eliminated. There are just under 100 proscribed terrorist groups listed by the UK Government (https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ist-groups)

[Mervyn and Trish]

My cynical question of the morning. Trump attack real or staged to boost his campaign? Convenient the alleged shooter is dead rather than arrested. Images of Trump with bloody ear and fist raised already everywhere.

[david63]

My cynical question of the morning. Trump attack real or staged to boost his campaign?

That was one of my thoughts but if it was staged then is was done badly as you would not aim for the head as that would almost certainly be fatal.

Convenient the alleged shooter is dead rather than arrested.

I think that is standard procedure in the US - shoot first ask questions later!

I am wondering how long it will be before the conspiracy theorists start blaming Biden

[Onelife]

My cynical question of the morning. Trump attack real or staged to boost his campaign? Convenient the alleged shooter is dead rather than arrested. Images of Trump with bloody ear and fist raised already everywhere.

With one attendee dead, two critically ill and one with part of his ear missing….it definitely didn’t go to script.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Who says an actual bullet went anywhere near his head? Trump. Easily faked. America is the home of Hollywood. And senior Republicans are already blaming Biden for inciting the "attack". I mean, can you imagine a US President inciting violence?

[Stephen]

Why do people keep calling him President Trump?
A woman on the Laura Kuenssberg show this morning again called him President Trump. Have they been in a coma for the last three years.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think it's a bizarre US tradition that they keep the title forever.

[david63]

Just a thought - doesn't Trump support/advocate gun rights? I wonder if this will change his position?

[Onelife]

I think it's a bizarre US tradition that they keep the title forever.

The same bizarre tradition we use in the UK....Lords, Ladies, and the rest of you.

[screwy]

How can a minimum of 16 years count as life.

Man jailed for life for Holly Willoughby murder plot https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c19k874r0m2o

Because a ‘life sentence ‘ is exactly that, as opposed to a ‘whole life’ term. A life sentence means that the minimum term is the point at which you must serve before being considered for release,that still could take years,has to satisfy parole board etc that he /she is deemed not to be a danger to the public. Still on a life license,any infringement of the law would invoke an immediate return to prison, whereas a whole life is just that.

[Onelife]

Just a thought - doesn't Trump support/advocate gun rights? I wonder if this will change his position?

Nope!

[Stephen]

How can a minimum of 16 years count as life.

Man jailed for life for Holly Willoughby murder plot https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c19k874r0m2o

Because a ‘life sentence ‘ is exactly that, as opposed to a ‘whole life’ term. A life sentence means that the minimum term is the point at which you must serve before being considered for release,that still could take years,has to satisfy parole board etc that he /she is deemed not to be a danger to the public. Still on a life license,any infringement of the law would invoke an immediate return to prison, whereas a whole life is just that.

Thanks screwy.