Two African- American men convicted through the United States justice system for different extremes of injustice face varying outcomes. Let me introduce Clifford "T.I." Harris Jr. and Michael (Mike) Vick. T.I. was convicted on weapons charges while Mike Vick was convicted for running a dog fighting operation. Logically thinking, I would automatically assume that a weapons charge would carry more weight than running a dog fighting operation, but apparently the justice system feels differently. Yesterday one of the hot topics on a few sites that I frequent was how T.I.'s 366 day sentence would be reduced to a measly 2 months, meanwhile Mike Vick is carrying out his 23 month imprisonment/3 year probation sentence. Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this picture? Why is it that buying guns illegally gets you less time behind bars than fighting dogs? I have a theory...
My theory is simple and fueled by race. T.I., a black man, was buying weapons illegally more than likely to protect himself from another black man. The justice system has proved through the years that it could care less about crimes committed against black people, especially black men; therefore, this was no big deal and just another crime of the rich and famous that lead to him being on the cover of magazines, landing a TV series, and performing on a farewell tour. When you flip the script with Mike Vick, another black man, harming "man's best friend" there's an outcry that causes him to lose his career and wealth almost overnight in the midst of protests and public bashing. The point being that when an interest of the majority is threatened they take offense and feel the need to serve out harsher punishments, but when a threat secures their place as the majority and proves the stereotypical behavior of the minority they reinforce the behavior with lighter punishments.
Bottom line, I think that it's ridiculous that T.I. is getting his sentence reduced. Weapons serve as a greater threat to the community at large than a bunch of dogs fighting one another in a controlled environment. I admit that my opinion may be a little biased due to the fact that I'm not a big animal lover, but despite this fact I find it hard to justify the court's decision in either case.
Do you think that T.I.'s sentence reduction is fair in comparison to Mike Vick's sentence? Why or why not?
Questions Are Posted
9 months ago
3 comments:
I don't see it that way at all. Tons of ppl have illegal weapons. Makes them no different from people who have them legally. It's when/how you use them that makes it an issue. And how/when they are used isn't something you can predict. That's why intent is so hard to prove in court.
Vick on the other hand, I wish could stay in jail a little bit longer.
You said: Weapons serve as a greater threat to the community at large than a bunch of dogs fighting one another in a controlled environment.
You might want to read up on Vick and his extra curricular activities. It was not just dogs fighting each other in a controlled environment.
I'm also not a big animal lover myself. Never grew up with them. But they have the ability to feel pain like humans and that's what makes me sick, what Vick did to those dogs. Dogs are considered man's best friend for a reason. The idea is that you wouldn't want what happened to them to happen to your mother, sister, brother, etc. For me, it's about extending the sympathy beyond humans to anything that can feel pain. If someone can't treat a dog right or just leave them alone, I wouldn't trust that person with anything human.
So for me, it's really simple. T.I. and his illegal weapons possession or Vick and his depravity?
PS: He's already been offered a job once he gets out. You can Google it.
T.I.'s sentence wasn't actually reduced. He had to serve one year. He's been on house arrest/community service for the past 305 days. A lot of people don't know this or realize that. When your on house arrest/community service, it is (in the laws eyes) the same as being in jail. It's called 'time on the shelf'. By him being under their care(having a house arrest bracelet or anklet) he hasn't been able to go do a lot of the things he would normally do. His every move was watched by the police.
With there being only 365 days in a year, if he's been on house arrest for 305, then yes he does only have 60 days left. I think that's fair.
I do think for HIS situation T.I.'s sentencing is fair, just like I feel for all the 'extra' that Vick had going on, his sentencing was extremely fair. It wasn't just dog fighting that got Vick caught up.
Yeah. T.I. doing loads of community service. Dont you see his reality show. And to celebrities, community service is worst than jail. I hope he learns his lesson though.
I also hope that Vick has changed his ways. I think he should stay away from dogs for a while. Maybe he should get a pet hamster.
Finally missy, I thought my blog was one that got you going too. I feel the love anymore :-(
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