Man Sentenced to 18 Months in State Prison for Peeing on the Alamo

[GrandMaster Smith]

I feel like this is one of those things where everyone who reads the article should be obligated to do something about it.. Take it to one of those change.org type websites or post it on reddit. Could you imagine being in his shoes knowing he's going to face the next near 2 years of his life in prison for simply pissing outside all the while people all around who read about it just idly sit by and let it happen?

 

Next thing you know you might be thrown into prison just for running a stop sign and instead of helping you out or doing anything about it, people just sit around and talk about how 'that sucks for that guy..' Stupid sh*t like this that goes on is the reason the US has the worlds largest population percentage rotting behind bars.

 

It's in no way fair to put a person through something such as that for such a harmless victimless crime.

Edited April 23, 2014 by GrandMaster Smith

[sivispacem]

How does a change.org post, or a reddit thread, constitute doing anything? That's the exact antithesis of doing something; the very definition of doing nothing.

[gtamann123]

I agree that the war on drugs is a colossal failure and needs to be scaled back significantly. But I don't agree that abusing harmful drugs like Meth, Heroin, and Crack are entirely 'Victimless crimes" and can lead to serious societal ills if not addressed. There has to be some kind of legal action taken against the suppliers of drugs and their habitual customers. Those who continue to go back even after being in and out of prison and treatment multiple times. At some point an addict becomes a lost cause and should be declared un-treatable.

 

OT: The sentence is too harsh. Her should have gotten a night in the city lockup and maybe 20-30 hours community service at best.

[K20]

pedophiles who sexually abuse babies don't get 18 months.

[Eminem!]

I pee in public and don't get sentenced

[RiskySeven]

I'll bet Mr. Athens will remember to use the public restrooms next time he decides to get tipsy while visiting a National Monument. There's no excuse for acting like a douche!

[a20characterusername]

I agree that the war on drugs is a colossal failure and needs to be scaled back significantly. But I don't agree that abusing harmful drugs like Meth, Heroin, and Crack are entirely 'Victimless crimes" and can lead to serious societal ills if not addressed. There has to be some kind of legal action taken against the suppliers of drugs and their habitual customers. Those who continue to go back even after being in and out of prison and treatment multiple times. At some point an addict becomes a lost cause and should be declared un-treatable.

Why should "legal action" be taken against those who do what they want with their own bodies? If an addict causes harm to others, then arrest the addict for causing harm to others, not for being an addict. Prohibition and other attempts at legislating morality tend to end in failure, and for good reason.

Edited April 23, 2014 by gtarelatedusername2

[hvcciookay]

Chances are if he's capable of doing something like this, his rap sheet can't be too pretty either. He probably had a bunch of other minimal charges against him in the past. Some cases people do get hard time for little things, but for the most part it's because you didn't adhere to the judge's deal to stay out of trouble.

[gtamann123]

 

I agree that the war on drugs is a colossal failure and needs to be scaled back significantly. But I don't agree that abusing harmful drugs like Meth, Heroin, and Crack are entirely 'Victimless crimes" and can lead to serious societal ills if not addressed. There has to be some kind of legal action taken against the suppliers of drugs and their habitual customers. Those who continue to go back even after being in and out of prison and treatment multiple times. At some point an addict becomes a lost cause and should be declared un-treatable.

Why should "legal action" be taken against those who do what they want with their own bodies? If an addict causes harm to others, then arrest the addict for causing harm to others, not for being an addict. Prohibition and other attempts at legislating morality tend to end in failure, and for good reason.

 

Its not about legislating morality. Legislating morality is when you make something that isn't harmful to others illegal (like homosexuality) I just view it as preventing future crimes. I don't think it takes a genius to see that drugs like Meth are on a completely different level in terms of addictiveness and the effects it has on your body that stuff like Pot. And can lead to people doing some f*cked up sh*t. Why should we wait for someone to go on a Meth fueled rampage or an H addict who needs his fix to start burglarizing houses and robbing people at gunpoint before we take legal action? Why not start earlier along in the process?

 

I don't think the war on drugs needs to be an all or nothing proposition like some make it out to be. Mandatory sentences of 20+ years are completely ridiculous. But that doesn't mean all drugs should be made legal.

Edited April 23, 2014 by gtamann123

[GrandMaster Smith]

How does a change.org post, or a reddit thread, constitute doing anything? That's the exact antithesis of doing something; the very definition of doing nothing.

 

 

Raising awareness is doing nothing, how? If many people become aware of this incident then the guys who are throwing this guys life away for nothing can be held accountable. You must really underestimate what people can do when they come together in large numbers..

 

Just the other week redditors uncovered an enormous censorship scandal that one of the main default subreddits was performing. Any post that had NSA, Tesla, bitcoin, Assange ect would get deleted. People found out, raised awareness and now the r/technology subreddits been removed from the default. It had over 100+ million viewers a month, the amount of information about the government that was being censored was ridiculous and if people had sat idly by nothing would've ever happened and no one would've ever been any the wiser..

[sivispacem]

Raising awareness is doing nothing, how?

Well the majority of cahnge.org petitions have less than 50 responses, and Redditors seldom care about anything that doesn't directly affet them or their community, so yeah, I'd say that neither of those actually represents "raising awareness". This incident made national news and, frankly, no-one appears to give a toss. It's also astonishingly naive to dismiss the entire thing as a gross injustice despite the complete lack of anything resembling context or history regarding the individual involved. Perhaps Redditors don't care because they're largely intelligent enough not to make assumptions from everything they read?

 

 

You must really underestimate what people can do when they come together in large numbers.

You must really overestimate how much the overwhelming majority of people care about a case like this.

[a20characterusername]

Its not about legislating morality. Legislating morality is when you make something that isn't harmful to others illegal (like homosexuality) I just view it as preventing future crimes.

That's exactly what you're doing when you want to imprison someone on the grounds that they *might* do something wrong. Would you really want that mindset taken to its logical extreme, especially in the current U.S. legal system?

 

I don't think it takes a genius to see that drugs like Meth are on a completely different level in terms of addictiveness and the effects it has on your body that stuff like Pot. And can lead to people doing some f*cked up sh*t. Why should we wait for someone to go on a Meth fueled rampage or an H addict who needs his fix to start burglarizing houses and robbing people at gunpoint before we take legal action? Why not start earlier along in the process?

 

Because not every addict goes around stealing to get their fix, and shouldn't be blamed for such unless and until they actually do so. Jail the addicts who steal for stealing, not for being addicts.

 

I don't think the war on drugs needs to be an all or nothing proposition like some make it out to be. Mandatory sentences of 20+ years are completely ridiculous. But that doesn't mean all drugs should be made legal.

 

Fair enough, but keep in mind that there are plenty of legal drugs that kill on a regular basis with nary a peep to ban them. Case in point; alcohol.

 

I won't keep derailing the thread though, so we can take this to PMs if you'd like.

[GrandMaster Smith]

 

Raising awareness is doing nothing, how?

Well the majority of cahnge.org petitions have less than 50 responses, and Redditors seldom care about anything that doesn't directly affet them or their community, so yeah, I'd say that neither of those actually represents "raising awareness". This incident made national news and, frankly, no-one appears to give a toss. It's also astonishingly naive to dismiss the entire thing as a gross injustice despite the complete lack of anything resembling context or history regarding the individual involved. Perhaps Redditors don't care because they're largely intelligent enough not to make assumptions from everything they read?

 

You must really underestimate what people can do when they come together in large numbers.

You must really overestimate how much the overwhelming majority of people care about a case like this.

 

 

That's quite the overwhelming generalization of one of the internet's largest communities.. Maybe you don't care this man's life is getting thrown away for such a petty crime but I do and I know others do as well as its been shown in this thread.

 

 

People should care regardless because even though today it's just some random guy in Texas, next thing you know it'll be you who's getting thrown in prison for jay-walking or some other harmless crime. It's emotionless people like yourself who allow this system to continue. Sure you yourself may be okay with no rights to privacy and a militarized police waiting to jail you for next to nothing but plenty of others aren't.

 

People who ruin other people's lives solely for profit should be held accountable without a doubt.

Edited April 23, 2014 by GrandMaster Smith

[gtamann123]

 

Its not about legislating morality. Legislating morality is when you make something that isn't harmful to others illegal (like homosexuality) I just view it as preventing future crimes.

That's exactly what you're doing when you want to imprison someone on the grounds that they *might* do something wrong. Would you really want that mindset taken to its logical extreme, especially in the current U.S. legal system?

 

I don't think it takes a genius to see that drugs like Meth are on a completely different level in terms of addictiveness and the effects it has on your body that stuff like Pot. And can lead to people doing some f*cked up sh*t. Why should we wait for someone to go on a Meth fueled rampage or an H addict who needs his fix to start burglarizing houses and robbing people at gunpoint before we take legal action? Why not start earlier along in the process?

 

Because not every addict goes around stealing to get their fix, and shouldn't be blamed for such unless and until they actually do so. Jail the addicts who steal for stealing, not for being addicts.

 

I don't think the war on drugs needs to be an all or nothing proposition like some make it out to be. Mandatory sentences of 20+ years are completely ridiculous. But that doesn't mean all drugs should be made legal.

 

Fair enough, but keep in mind that there are plenty of legal drugs that kill on a regular basis with nary a peep to ban them. Case in point; alcohol.

 

I won't keep derailing the thread though, so we can take this to PMs if you'd like.

 

Good Points. My arguments are mainly aimed more at the drug sellers and producers more so than the users. An addict will seek their fix no matter if it is legal or not. So it would be ineffective to continue to pursue users although they shouldn't get off Scott free either.

 

But yeah let's stop derailing the thread. I would prefer to just leave it at this rather than continue in PM

Edited April 23, 2014 by gtamann123

[sivispacem]

Maybe you don't care this man's life is getting thrown away for such a petty crime but I do and I know others do as well as its been shown in this thread.

I sense you're missing the salient point in my response:

 

 

It's also astonishingly naive to dismiss the entire thing as a gross injustice despite the complete lack of anything resembling context or history regarding the individual involved. Perhaps Redditors don't care because they're largely intelligent enough not to make assumptions from everything they read?

[GrandMaster Smith]

I believe the article makes it rather clear what happened:

 

"As detailed in a San Antonio Police Department report, an Alamo Ranger spotted the tipsy Athens standing in a “chained off area not open to the public” making “the motions of putting his penis back in his pants.” Upon investigation, the cop discovered that there was “a puddle on the original mortar of the Shrine.”"

 

I'm happy to know my tax dollars are hard at work locking this enormous threat to society up..

Edited April 23, 2014 by GrandMaster Smith

[Slamman]

It sounds like Ozzy got off light, banned for life, but he was able to return eventually. He did alright. IIRC, Ozz once said that being an alcoholic, he'd never be 'cured', just on the bandwagon as long as possible, obviously the abuse did take it's toll. You Don't Mess With Texas, moral of the tale?!? haha

[sivispacem]

I believe the article makes it rather clear what happened:

I see your usual selective processing foibles are alive and kicking. Exactly what about that quote discusses the offender's previous criminal history?

[PerceusSOZ]

Urinating on the Alamo eroded a whole 2 seconds of history, and he shall be punished for it.

[GrandMaster Smith]

 

I believe the article makes it rather clear what happened:

I see your usual selective processing foibles are alive and kicking. Exactly what about that quote discusses the offender's previous criminal history?

 

 

Nothing, so your guess to his criminal background is as good as mine.

 

With the recent outbreak of police brutality and severe abuse of power there is very little doubt in my mind this man was such a threat to society to warrant a 2 year prison sentence. From the article it just seems to be some tipsy 23yo kid who took a piss on some sand in Texas.

 

Say this man has even just a petty criminal history, do you believe it's justice to lock him away for 2 years? Do you brush off every article of police abusing their power like this? This kinda sh*t happens All the time in the states.. I just watched a video a friend recorded on facebook of this guy getting his ass kicked by a gang of cops for asking why someone else was getting arrested.. like body slammed on the pavement followed by several haymakers to the face all while handcuffed. The police are turning into a gang of thugs, they're there to make money and protect the elite, not protect the people.

[Killerdude]

Murica' Land of the free ...?

 

Nope.

 

 

Man pisses on building.

1^1/2 years of Jail time.

 

 

Because f*ck logic.

[sivispacem]

How are the police abusing their power? They didn't try him, convict him or sentence him did they? The sentence he's received has precisely nothing to do with "police abuse of power", and I've got no idea what on earth makes you think it is. Totally bizarre.

[GrandMaster Smith]

It's the entire justice system abusing it's power. People are making money off other people who rot in their jails.. Prisons are a business in America.

[Samuel Howitzer]

Texas Y U give U.S. bad name!

[sivispacem]

It's the entire justice system abusing it's power. People are making money off other people who rot in their jails.. Prisons are a business in America.

I don't disagree, but your rant was about overzealous police behaviour. In reality the sentence this man received has absolutely nothing to do with abuse of authority on the part of the police.

[hvcciookay]

Exactly, the police are merely messageboys and the Judicial system isn't abusive at all. There is no one pulling strings on the judge when he or she sentences unless someone behind closed doors bribes them. It's purely "you commited this and that and so I will give you x weeks, years, months or whatever".

[GrandMaster Smith]

 

It's the entire justice system abusing it's power. People are making money off other people who rot in their jails.. Prisons are a business in America.

I don't disagree, but your rant was about overzealous police behaviour. In reality the sentence this man received has absolutely nothing to do with abuse of authority on the part of the police.

 

 

Oh no I agree with you on that, the abuse in this particular case is more within the courts than with officers. It doesn't mean there isn't a major problem with police officers abusing power though. This guy could consider himself lucky if he didn't get a right hook to the back of the head after he had been detained laying defenseless facedown in the dirt..

[sivispacem]

I never said there wasn't an issue with abuse of power in the US police force. Just questioned why you insisted on going on about how corrupt the police are in your opinion when it had nothing to do with the case at hand.

[GrandMaster Smith]

I never said there wasn't an issue with abuse of power in the US police force. Just questioned why you insisted on going on about how corrupt the police are in your opinion when it had nothing to do with the case at hand.

 

Because I was venting my frustration with the police and justice system as a whole while people like yourself voice out against people wanting doing something about it. You would've made a damn fine nazi.

[sivispacem]

Because I was venting my frustration with the police and justice system as a whole while people like yourself voice out against people wanting doing something about it

As I've already pointed out, you and I differ greatly in our ideas of "doing something about it". As I'm fairly sure I've pointed out before, I'm pretty certain that I have- actively speaking- done more to campaign against abuses of power, support democracy and uphold the rule of law than you. But hey, if you want to pretend that creating a poorly informed complaint thread on a public forum constitutes actually doing something about an issue, go knock yourself out

 

 

You would've made a damn fine nazi.

Coming from someone whose spent a good deal of time and a fairly significant proportion of his post count on this forum attempting to support what is in essence and anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, that means a lot.