When we struggle with a solution to a difficult problem, it’s often time to “reframe the argument.” First there was restorative justice, bail reform and, now, sentencing reform. While review and restructure are always good, some current philosophies propose a number of problems on many levels.
Most of our most recent mass gun violence episodes were the work of a lone gunman. In Uvalde, 21 children were killed. Those 21 children had parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins and close friends. It is a community of 16,000 people. That gunman created at least 17,176 victims and survivors whose lives changed forever.
For too long, the voices of victims have been ignored. In Pennsylvania this year, a “task force” that was assembled to review crime released a 3,000-word report mentioning the word “victim” just 10 times.
Our victim service organization has served millions of victims and survivors over the years. If you think I exaggerate, see above. What these academics, pundits and other supporters of this latest movement to restructure our sentencing system don’t understand is the gunman in Uvalde created not 21 but thousands of victims and survivors of his heinous crime.
Perhaps instead of the criminal justice system, let’s start calling it the victims justice system. After all, isn’t it why we are there, to see that justice is delivered fairly and protect the innocent?
Laurie MacDonald
South Side