McIntire, a 19-year-old student at Boston’s University of Massachusetts, appeared in federal court Friday and has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.

https://archive.ph/PI9fY

  • magnetosphere@fedia.io
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    3 days ago

    Yes, arson is a crime, and rightly so. “Decades behind bars”, however, for setting two cars on fire (and damaging two charging stations) is insanely disproportionate. There’s a very important reason that not all infractions are sentenced to the maximum possible extent:

    If the government is going to drop any pretense of mercy or sanity, then there’s no reason why people shouldn’t take their time, plan things carefully, and destroy the whole dealership. People who would otherwise do less damage are taking note. Sure, some will be scared away, but I think more will be emboldened. Maybe I’m wrong, but it doesn’t matter. Either way, the end result will be worse.

    The government is basically telling people that prosecutors won’t be reasonable, so you might as well make sure the crime is truly worthy of the punishment. I cannot overemphasize what a terrible idea this is.

    • ouRKaoS@lemmy.today
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      3 days ago

      It’s like the zero-tolerance policy my at my kid’s school…

      I told them if you get hit, since you’re going to get suspended anyway, fight back until I get there to pick you up.

      • Grass Cat@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        “zero tolerance” in public schools is 100% copout cowardice from administrators who would rather hide behind policy instead of having to earn their six-figure incomes by making the basic fundamental decisions that the job duties entail. All principals everywhere are midwit cowards.

        • Railing5132@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          While I agree with the assessment of zero tolerance policies, there isn’t a soul in our entire school district that is making 6 figures. Most of the faculty in our district are barely scraping by because the voters believe this collective delusion that schools have more money than god and are full of wasteful spending. That is a lie promulgated by conservatives to defund schools.

          Stop feeding that lie.

          • andros_rex@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            The problem is admin.

            Principals make a bit less than $100k. One year, my principal just didn’t show up to work. Like, it was a game where she’d show up in the morning sometimes if the superintendent was going to be there, but otherwise completely gone.

            But, if I tried to do something like give the star basketball player the grade he earned, or tried to write up a student for watching tiktoks on full volume during class - she’d show up just to force me to do nothing.

          • Grass Cat@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            I am a public school advocate from MI where every single administrator in the state makes six figures as well as many gym teachers who don’t yet grasp the English language’s most basic homophones.

            This is reality. I think public school admin has collectively failed our country as much if not more so than any profession.

            • Railing5132@lemmy.world
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              2 days ago

              I am a (recently) former school board member of my district in MI and personally reviewed the compensation packages for our staff.

              Quit spreading bullshit.

              • Grass Cat@lemmy.world
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                2 days ago

                Which district? I’m in Grand Rapids and can name TWO gym teachers from my first failing district who pulled six figures and struggled with the most basic homophones.

                It’s not BS to say that admin makes six figures. Most all admin do.

                • Railing5132@lemmy.world
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                  2 days ago

                  Your very own OP said (and I’m on mobile with a shit app so I can’t copy and paste, so I’m quoting from memory, but y’all can look up there for the actual words): "I’m a public education advocate from MI and all (emphasis mine) admin make 6 figures.

                  That part. That’s a lie. You’re now moving the goalposts and I’m calling you on your bullshit.

                  I’m not going to do myself as I’ve taken pains to remain anonymous after being doxxed and harassed on that other shit platform. Suffice it to say that I don’t live in one of the most affluent school districts in Michigan (ahem; Rockford and what other ISD’s around GR?). I live among the poorest.

                  I’m not disagreeing on gym teachers not knowing the basics of other subjects, but you keep going on your gish gallop.

        • Fluffy Kitty Cat@slrpnk.net
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          2 days ago

          It’s a pro bullying policy designed to hurt bullying victims, who are the same people who are oppressed as adults and that’s not by accident

    • SSTF@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      News media unfortunately tends to look up the absolute maximum a crime can be sentenced and reports as if that is the default sentencing. It is rare for crimes to be sentenced to the max. If we can get past the screaming about “but this is Trump’s America now!”, the sentencing is still unlikely to be at the max, or at least not maxed out on every count.

      I wish the article had shown their work, because from my skim (quick skim, but I’m pretty solid on the DD charge maximum at least) the two charges together have a maximum sentencing of 17 years combined if charged by the federal system. It would have been 13 if the state had charged.

    • evilcultist@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Her punishment should be at least as bad as the sentences rioters served for breaking into the U.S. capitol. Or maybe that should be the cap since her actions didn’t result in death and weren’t intended as an attempt at insurrection (unless someone that owns Tesla is now considered the head of government).

    • PaupersSerenade@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Absolutely, it’s called a proportional response for a reason. I always think of the West Wing scene when this subject comes up. The whole scene lives in my head rent free to be honest.