A decade after fatal N.C. crash, emotions remain strong

Dave wrote:

Understand all that was said. HOWEVER, I still feel that 60 yeras was an OUTRAGEOUS sentenance

You may think 60 years is to harsh, but how many times was she arrested for drunk driving ???

Noise factor wrote:

<quoted text>
You may think 60 years is to harsh, but how many times was she arrested for drunk driving ???

But, how many times was she convicted? If the state would have done their job the first time...would this have ever occured? Also, how much jail time is a life worth? A drunk driver in VA was convicted last week for a crash that killed an innocent person and only got a year sentence. 15 years to life per person she killed is that fair? This accident wasnt premeditated. I dont know of convicted murderers that are sentenced that harsh.

How much is the life of your mother, father, son or daughter worth?

IF someone who had been arrested at least two previous times for the EXACT same offense and then a third time hit and killed a family member of yours, how much time do you think they should get?

So I ask, how much is the life of your mother, father, son or daughter worth?

Noise factor wrote:

<quoted text>
You may think 60 years is to harsh, but how many times was she arrested for drunk driving ???

I heard about a judge who used bumper stickers to encourage better driving.
He gave two options to people guilty of driving while intoxicated.
The first option was to attach this message to their bumper:“This car owned by a convicted drunk driver.” Almost all offenders preferred the judge’s second option: Enroll in an alcohol treatment program .The majority of people cared about what others thought of them and wanted to maintain a good image.
The fear of embarrassment applies to other kinds of unacceptable behavior as well. For example, not many of us would be willing to walk around with a sign on our backs that read things we’ve done in the past.
If god required us to display such a sign, would our desire for the respect of others keep us from revealing our true spiritual condition? The way we answer that question says a lot about our sense of shame before the Lord, who judges us accurately.
Please stop judging her she’s paying her crime, guilt and grief. Maybe every one of you need to look at your life to see what changes could be made to make you and the world a better place.

I am not pointing fingers at Missy specifically but just asking a question. In fact, take Missy out of it. Many people on this board have said that 60 years is too long of a sentence for taking the lives of 4 people.

For all the people who think it is too long of a sentence, simply state what value you put on the life of your child, mother, father etc...and say what you believe the sentence should have been.

Just wondering wrote:

I am not pointing fingers at Missy specifically but just asking a question. In fact, take Missy out of it. Many people on this board have said that 60 years is too long of a sentence for taking the lives of 4 people.
For all the people who think it is too long of a sentence, simply state what value you put on the life of your child, mother, father etc...and say what you believe the sentence should have been.

I did lose a child last year to a drunk driver ,so I know what it feels like. Do I want the guy to get 60 years? NO ! If you had asked that after the accident I would have said yes,but I have forgiven him. Do I want him to get time ? Yes, I would be lying if I said No .
Maybe a year just to think about how he could turn his life around. I bet it's not something he's over or will ever be over it. Just like her reaching out and helping others,I hope he would do the same.

Pointing Fingers wrote:

<quoted text>I did lose a child last year to a drunk driver ,so I know what it feels like. Do I want the guy to get 60 years? NO ! If you had asked that after the accident I would have said yes,but I have forgiven him. Do I want him to get time ? Yes, I would be lying if I said No .
Maybe a year just to think about how he could turn his life around. I bet it's not something he's over or will ever be over it. Just like her reaching out and helping others,I hope he would do the same.

A conscious decision made which takes a life is only worth maybe a year?

Pitiful wrote:

<quoted text>A conscious decision made which takes a life is only worth maybe a year?

You can think what you want ! Maybe I'm nuts.Yes,he should pull time ,but not 60 years. Whatever the sentence is it's not going to bring my son back.It's been hell for me and I'm sure this boy is going though it ,too. After all they have to live with that decision they made getting behind that wheel for life.

Well thank you for having the guts to answer the question that no one else on this board wants to answer.

You believe your child’s life was worth 365 days and have stated your opinion. thanks.

Two questions

1. How much time did your sons killer get?
2. Did the judge ever ask either openly or privately what you thought you sons killer should get?

Pointing Fingers wrote:

After all they have to live with that decision they made getting behind that wheel for life.

Yet "they" still have a life.

Just wondering wrote:

Well thank you for having the guts to answer the question that no one else on this board wants to answer.
You believe your child’s life was worth 365 days and have stated your opinion. thanks.
Two questions
1. How much time did your sons killer get?
2. Did the judge ever ask either openly or privately what you thought you sons killer should get?

I didn't say my child's life was only worth a year to me . He's worth more than that,but it's not going to bring him back if he got a year or more. Like I said they have to live with that the rest of their lives.
It hasn't gone to court yet.

It is arguable that you are a better person than I am. I would want anyone who has made a conscious decision that ended in the termination of a life, to spend an equal amount of time locked up. To feel as you do is commendable to a point. Though to me, being so tolerant and forgiving are weaknesses that allows unwanted behavior to continue in our society.

Pointing Fingers wrote:

<quoted text>I did lose a child last year to a drunk driver ,so I know what it feels like. Do I want the guy to get 60 years? NO ! If you had asked that after the accident I would have said yes,but I have forgiven him. Do I want him to get time ? Yes, I would be lying if I said No .
Maybe a year just to think about how he could turn his life around. I bet it's not something he's over or will ever be over it. Just like her reaching out and helping others,I hope he would do the same.

Great, wonderful, glad you are so forgiving.

Now look up the recidivism rate for drunk drivers. Let me point one study out to you: http://apha.confex.com/apha/128am/techprogram...
You can find more.

1/3rd of Drunk Drivers are going to do it again. So rather than put that fool who killed your son someplace he can't do it again for a long time, you want him back out on the streets driving again?

As a parent, let me say how much I appreciate your consideration. Forgive him in your heart, but let him pay his debt to society in full.