Human rights....An imposture ?

Question

Please sensible answers only !
Why should people that do not follow the basic duties of life have any rights ?
Why cant we punish severely,( just to be politicaly correct), those who murder, rape, torture others ?
Why should they have human rights when they cant follow human duties ?
I know I am not politically correct saying that but I'm tired of hearing that prisonners complain for this that or the other, That illegal immigrants battle to have more rights than locals just because their life is hard !! I must be dreaming....our life can be hard to ........should we murder someone to call for our "human rights" ????#
I dont want to shock anyone by saying this and apologise if I do but would like to read your points of view on what is going on.

Answer 1

The issue here is how Society treats those that transgress ... there has to be a balance between the rights of the majority law abiding citizens and those who choose not to conform.

Many would say that 'rights' should be linked to 'responsibilities' - those who refuse to accept the responsibilities implied by Society should not be granted the same rights enjoyed by the majority.

In past times non-conformists could be removed from Society either voluntarily (emigration to America, 'go west') or forcibly (transportation).

Unfortunately it is no longer possible to exile ('out-law') those who transgress - we are thus forced to use prison as a substitute. In my view Societies error lies in trying to impose the same rights within Prison as the majority enjoys outside.

The ideal prison would be one large enough to be at least semi-self supporting and isolated from Society in which the those who prey on the rest can be left to run their own lives and choose (or not) to prey on each other.

Given that this is not 'Politically Correct' we are left with the current compromise - Prison with as part of Society and where citizens are held as some sort of punishment.

My own belief is that Prison 'works' in that, whilst in jail, offenders have little opportunity to re-offend and thus the majority is protected from them. Of course, as soon as they are released the return to preying on others.

Personally I believe in the removal of the offenders opportunity to commit further offences coupled with non-prison punishment for those who do manage to offend.

I am a firm believer that those who commit offences are the ones who should suffer inconvenience and feel frustrated that our Policing system focuses on inconveniencing the victims ('always lock your door', 'fit an alarm', 'leave nothing in your car') rather than arresting and removing the offenders ('it's only joy riding - your insurance will pay').

Perhaps one day Citizens will take back the right to Police themselves - and we will no longer turn around and walk away when we see a crime being committed for fear of becoming 'involved' or being accused of assault (whist the offender laughs all the way to the compensation court)

In the mean-while, we either put up with it, go into politics or emigrate to somewhere less tolerant.