I never understood the Marissa Alexander defender brigade

[JJChambers]

I do understand the outrage about the Trayvon / Zimmerman case, and how justice was not served. But I fail to see why we should intentionally try to deny justice to Marissa's victims. Let us not forget the facts of this case, summed up by DU's own Hack89:

1. She was in the bedroom.
2. She left the bedroom and walked by her ex on the way to the garage, muttering " I have something for your ass."
3. She walked by the front door on the way to the garage - she could have escaped
4. She entered the garage, got her gun from her car.
5. She took that gun and went back into the house to confront her ex
6. She shoot just over his head into the ceiling. Her kids were standing next to the ex.

I also believe that since Marissa's shooting incident, she was released and then arrested for more domestic violence.

Marissa is a violent criminal who shot at her ex, missed, and later claimed it was a warning shot. She endangered his life and the lives of her children, who were also immediately present during the shooting. She deserves substantial prison time.

Can we stop pretending she is some righteous innocent victim railroaded by a corrupt and racist justice system? She's a violent criminal being prosecuted by a corrupt and racist justice system.

[mike_c]

1. there's a prison cell for everyone in America....

I'm getting so tired of hearing people called "violent criminals," "terrorists," and whatnot to justify punishing them rather than seeking real solutions to their problems and the problems they cause for others. Incarceration is our answer for every problem.

[JJChambers]

2. If shooting at your ex and your kids doesn't make you a violent criminal

I don't know what does.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Do you think her children would "demand the justice" of having their mother locked up

for 60 years???

Punishments should fit the crime. The drum-beating against this woman is sick, no matter where you stand on the issue.

[Trajan]

4. She harmed no one ...

Geez ... hitch your wagon to hack's ridiculous conclusions and see how far you get ...

Those 'facts' do not justify a 60 fucking year sentence ... Nobody is denying she shot a gun - the problem is with the level of sentence that you AND hack and who knows how many of the Gungeonite 'hacks' have went off on this tangent ...

5 years tops ... maximum ...

[JJChambers]

6. She harmed no one because she missed

I don't see how anyone can be upset about pointing out the facts of the case. Didn't she turn down a good plea? 3 years??

[Trajan]

12. This is classic shit stirring at it's DU worst

Reposting the same arguments from a contentious thread ... again? ... why?

Did it satisfy your need to have your own little shitstorm to play in?

Screw that ...

[Bjorn Against]

5. The big issue for me is the contrast with other gun cases in Florida

I don't defend Marissa Alexander's actions, I believe she did commit a crime and should be held accountable. My problem is the contrast between how she is being treated and how "Stand Your Ground" shooters are treated in Florida. The problem is not that she is innocent, the problem is that Florida laws are really messed up and there appears to be a great deal of inequality in how those laws are prosecuted.

On edit: I should also clarify that while I do believe she did commit a crime and does need to be held accountable, 60 years in prison is excessive.

[cali]

7. say what? and link to her being arrested for domestic violence after her release

no one was hurt. 60 years is fucking insane.

Sick post

[JJChambers]

8. What

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3995869/

Alexander was also charged with domestic battery four months after the shooting in another assault on Gray. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to time served.

[cali]

9. yes indeed, terrible dangerous criminal who had never been arrested before

Alexander had never been arrested before she fired a bullet at a wall one day in 2010 to scare off her husband when she felt he was threatening her. Nobody was hurt, but the judge in the case said he was bound by state law to sentence her to 20 years in prison after she was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Alexander has maintained that the shot fired was a warning shot.

[Jenoch]

10. Of course 60 years is too harsh, as is a 20 year senrence.

The 3 years she was offered would be a just sentence, assuming she behaved well, she should have served her time and been released early and be home by now.

[flvegan]

11. The sentence they seek is unjust.

Did she break the law? Most likely. Does it garner 60 years in prison? No. I wish she had taken the plea deal.

As for the "defender brigade" (at least those that somehow tie this in with the Zimmerman case) they've allowed emotion to overrule sense. They're angry, and just aren't going to take it anymore. Or something.