Vodkapundit - The Murdering Rapist and the Little Woman

The Murdering Rapist and the Little Woman

Posted by · 15 March 2005

Yesterday I was on MSNBC's "Connected Coast to Coast" with Ron Reagan and Monica Crowley to talk about the murdering and raping criminal Brian Nichols and female security officers. My argument is quite radical: I don't think any woman, large or small, or a horde of them, should have been guarding a big, strong, violent man, especially one who was found with two shanks on him the day before.

I was on with a female cop from New York and a male criminologist, both of whom argued that there's no difference between male and female officers, etc.

Watch Part I and Part II of the video. See this post for the after-action report.

Update: More courtroom non-security. Unbelievable.

Comments

It was a fluke. Shw was lucky.

Posted by: Rod Stanton at March 15, 2005 08:09 AM

Is this one of those games where you are supposed to complete the sentence?

Fun!

Okay...

"Yesterday I was on MSNBC's "Connected Coast to Coast" with"

Keith Olberman, when he started spouting off that there were more votes un-counted in Ohio. The next thing I knew Michelle Malkin whipped out a katana and ...

Posted by: Jon at March 15, 2005 08:26 AM

I thought I saved "Draft" but it was "Publish." :)

Posted by: La Shawn at March 15, 2005 08:35 AM

ah man... I was looking forward to the story thing... :)

But what is this about NBC News anchor and successor to Tom Brokaw got caught for raping?

Is nothing sacred to the old media guys???!

I'm sorry... I'm ruining things aren't I

Posted by: Jon at March 15, 2005 08:40 AM

Ug.. I am all for equality, but equality should mean the female guards and officers have to meet the same physical standards the men do. At the moment, they do not. As such, they should NOT be guarding violet criminals, male or female.

Posted by: amy at March 15, 2005 09:41 AM

OTOH, an unarmed woman ended up calming the savage beast, and talking him into giving himself up...

Having had some gal Marine officer friends, I'm not fully in agreement. Though Michelle Malkin with a katana would prove to be very menacing.

Posted by: Jon at March 15, 2005 09:44 AM

I'm not sure that I would want the prisoner being escorted by a 5'1 51 year old man, either. Ideally, this should not have passed a simple reality check.

There are physical differences between men and women; elements of our society that wish it were otherwise do not help us to deal with reality. There are things that, on the average, men do better than women and vice versa. There are also, as with any rule, always exceptions.

I have met many a woman who I would rather have guarding my back than some men I could mention, but when you are talking about 9 weeks in a foxhole... 9 weeks without a bath is just bad hygiene for men, but it could kill a woman. We are simply physically different creatures.

Inasmuch as guarding prisoners goes, I don't think it is a matter of gender as much as a matter of intelligent policy. Rapists as a rule should be guarded by men physically capable of tipping the odds. Yes, I realize that skill can overcome brawn, but we are talking about generally applying good common sense. Beyond that, those accused of particularly violent offences should be in shackles at all times (here comes the defense lawyers arguing prejudice) and escorted by more than one guard. Particularly small or senior guards should be used appropriately.

Good to see you here, LaShawn! I am a regular reader of your “Corner” as well as “VodkaPundit”.

Posted by: Michael Cummins at March 15, 2005 10:29 AM

From the news articles, he was handcuffed and would be handcuffed in the courtroom. But he had to change his clothes, out of prison pajamas and into street clothes. To do that he had to have the cuffs removed. A well designed cell would have a slot in the door for the prisoner to put his hands through to take off the cuffs and then to put them back on again. This cell door was solid so the cuffs were removed with him standing inside the cell with the door open.

Posted by: Julie at March 15, 2005 10:56 AM

Keith Olberman, when he started spouting off that there were more votes un-counted in Ohio. The next thing I knew Michelle Malkin whipped out a katana and ...

There can be only one! ]:-)

Posted by: M. Scott Eiland at March 15, 2005 11:40 AM

Agreed with Julie. This is what we call "mistake proofing." Perhaps I can sell the justice system on some FMEA analysis consulting...

Posted by: andy at March 15, 2005 01:16 PM

And why in blazes did the guy have to change his clothes? Oh, that's right, wouldn't want anyone on the jury to think maybe the guy might be guilty. Yes, he's in handcuffs, but don't think he might be guilty.

Posted by: Robert at March 15, 2005 01:24 PM

I have to agree with Michael: A simple reality check (aka "local knowledge") should be enough. Just because the average man is larger and stronger than the average woman doesn't mean that any given man is larger and stronger than any given woman.

As an added bonus, think how humiliating it would be to be guarded (seriously) by those inferior creatures whom you so despise.

[That's not a very serious argument or we'd have 12 year olds guarding Michael Jackson.]

Posted by: mrsizer at March 16, 2005 07:03 AM

OT: Does La Shawn or anyone else have a comment about Jeralyn Merritt turning off comments on her bigoted Kansas post? Oh, and deleting/banning trackbacks?

Sorry to be off-topic, but you see, dissent isn't allowed where it belongs.

Posted by: Dan at March 16, 2005 08:32 AM

Sure, I'll comment- anyone who argues about _Kansas_- pro or con- needs another hobby.

Posted by: rosignol at March 16, 2005 03:35 PM