Just recompense.

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When I was in the Navy, if anyone figured out a means of reducing costs and after a few trials the process or device proved as a money saver, that man was awarded 10% of the savings. Save the Navy big, you could retire. And I promise you, some men did and with millions or tens of millions of dollars to go with their retirement. While reading the news today, I noted that a woman, after being attacked in her home, along with her fiance, shot and killed a recently released convict. The idea clicked.

I have to wonder how much the state and possibly federal law agencies and courts would have spent trying and then housing the convict, how much he would have cost in lives and damages had he not been killed, and such? Now, I would not ask the state and federal government to reimburse based on speculation or even the worth of lives. However, the costs of trying and housing are a sure thing and are getting out of control. So, my proposal would, in obvious cases such as this, reward the shooter (assuming death of the criminal) a fixed 10% of the projected costs involved.

Would this, perhaps, lead to abuses? Why, it just might. And, exactly, who would be being abused? Ah, criminals. Rapists and murderers for the most part, would feel the brunt of any abuses. Oh? Oh yeah. And, really, I am quite fine with that. If you want to see violent and sexual crime decline, at a reasonable cost in both dollars and real civil rights, engage the public in such a manner that they would happily oblige. I still think most would not simply give a coup de grace. I doubt if this woman did, the guy probably just would not go down, could not believe his "date" could or would do this to him. Still, I have no problems with those who might very well choose to do so, even merely for the financial benefit.

It is obvious that the criminal justice system is a failure. It is obvious that keeping thugs off the streets for a short time does little to change their behavior. Death seems to work really well and, at the cost of a handful of .38's, she did what millions of dollars, risk to the jailers, and all the time spent holding this fool. Hey, on a simple apples versus apples sliding scale, the state losses. Justice? He finally got that, but from someone who should not have had to provide it. Pay her. Heck, she is not even union!