The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 5: The Three ‘R’s
Page 8: Retaliation
Retaliation is not about balance or fairness. We’re talking about VENGEANCE, here.
Average Joe stabbing a guy in the back with a big knife
Little more than the emotional drive to simply hurt those who have hurt us.
All that matters is that you hurt someone, you hurt society, and so society is gonna hurt you right back.
It’s an animal instinct, protective and immediate.
Momma tiger protecting her cubs
We don’t like to talk about it. And nobody ever brings it up as a factor at sentencing. But it would be dishonest to ignore it.