Just a real tragic situation. I know Heatley was reckless for driving over the speed limit but he wasn't intoxicated. I'm not really sure what the appropriate punishment here is. Whatever it is, I doubt it can even come close to the torment and guilt that he has to live with for the rest of his life.
Actually, I think a good sentence would be to never let him drive again and to do a lot of community service speaking out to kids about what happened. He's a NHL star, he's someone kids look up to, and I think he's someone that young kids would listen to about the dangers of speeding.
I really don't know what putting him in prison would solve.
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Putting him in prison doesn't necessarily need to solve anything. Part of the judicial system is supposed to be punitive.
I don't think it makes things any better that Heatley wasn't intoxicated. He did what society always warns could be the worst consequences of drunk driving - drove his car erratically and killed somebody. The fact that he was just stupid rather than drunk doesn't change the fact that Dan Snyder is dead.
I'm not saying lock Heatley up and throw away the key, but he deserves to do some time. I've never bought "he feels guilty" as an adequate punishment for people who commit serious crimes, and the fact that Heatley scores some goals and could talk to kids doesn't change my mind.
People don't get thrown in jail for driving too fast, though, they get a speeding ticket. You can get locked up for drinking and driving, so obviously society has dictated there is a huge difference.
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Yes, but why do you get thrown in jail for drunk driving? Because you might smash your car and kill somebody. Speeding is still punished because it's reckless, not because we want people to take their time to get where they're going. If you do it and get caught you get punished, if there are consequences (say you ram somebodies car) you get a stiffer penalty. This is no different, except this time the consequences were about as severe as you can imagine. The penalty should reflect that.
Originally posted by fuelinjectedPeople don't get thrown in jail for driving too fast, though, they get a speeding ticket. You can get locked up for drinking and driving, so obviously society has dictated there is a huge difference.
He isnt facing jail time for speeding, he is facing jail time because his actions directly resulted in the death of a human being.
As a result of speeding, not drunk driving. BigVitoMark says its the same difference. I tend to think there is a difference if you kill someone as a result of just careless speeding as opposed to drunk driving.
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Originally posted by fuelinjectedI tend to think there is a difference if you kill someone as a result of just careless speeding as opposed to drunk driving.
Hopefully the people who will decide Heatley's fate don't feel the same way as you do. He acted stupid and illegally and it resulted in the death of a human being. Who cares if it's because he was drunk or because he was speeding? Would it make a difference to you if someone you cared about was killed in that accident?
If Heatley was indeed speeding at the time of the accident, then I hope he goes to jail for a long, long time.
You do realize that the Snyder Family has said over and over again that they forgive Heatley for making a mistake.
Going over the speed limit is much less of a mistake then getting wasted and getting behind the wheel of a car. The risks are MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH greater of having a fatal accident while drinking and driving then speeding.
Heatley and Snyder were best friends, do you think Snyder had no idea that Heatley liked to drive fast? He got in the car, didn't he?
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Originally posted by fuelinjectedYou do realize that the Snyder Family has said over and over again that they forgive Heatley for making a mistake.
If I am correct, the plaintiff in this matter is not the Snyder family, but the state of Georgia. The law is the law. You make the point that drunk drivers go to jail, even if they don't crash and kill someone, because they COULD HAVE. Do you not believe that because of Heatley's reckless driving he COULD HAVE killed someone else? Perhaps someone else whose family was not as forgiving?
Originally posted by fuelinjectedGoing over the speed limit is much less of a mistake then getting wasted and getting behind the wheel of a car.
Yes, but if your actions from either result in the death of another human, then you GO TO JAIL. Look, I'm not going to debate with you any longer on what's worse: speeding or drunk driving. They are both stupid and they are both illegal.
Originally posted by fuelinjectedHeatley and Snyder were best friends, do you think Snyder had no idea that Heatley liked to drive fast? He got in the car, didn't he?
Who gives a s**t? That's like saying "My friend likes to hunt with rifles. I should've known there was a chance he might shoot me in the face if I went hunting with him." No one INTENDS to kill another in these instances, but we have laws to keep those risks at a minimum.
Sorry Fuel, but I have to agree with the others here. Speeding is against the law, and going against the law in this case resulted in the ultimate consequences.
smark/net attack wienerville advisory is raised to YELLOW alert - Elevated (JBL is the new WWE champion, good gawd hide under the desk. But Benoit is World Champion allowing some safety in the IWC)- 6/28
I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet: Yesterday was the NHL's trade deadline, and there was a flurry of activity. I had considered calling in sick just so I could follow the action (and hype) live.