The Not So “Sensible” Sentencing Trust

Garth McVicar and the so-called “Sensible” Sentencing Trust have today chastised Children’s Commissioner Dr Cidy Kiro, and in the process have shown a disgusting level of callousness and cold-heartedness to all victims of violent crime in New Zealand. In reference to comments made by Kiro saying that tagging and graffiti were seen as a legitimate art form for some people, McVicar said:

“Her comments are hugely provocative at a time when a decent hard-working citizen is facing a murder charge because of his frustration over this issue.”

It is absolutely abhorrent that a person in McVicar’s position would seek to defend the actions of someone accused of murdering a young teenager by labelling him as a “decent” citizen, and it is certainly difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile this with McVicar’s status as a so-called “champion” for victims rights. What kind of human-being regards such acts as being appropriate for “decent” citizens? Furthermore, it sends a clear message that the “Sensible” Sentencing Trust assesses victims of murder on some kind of scale, where some victims are deserving of their fate and others are not.  

What exactly is wrong with Dr Kiro’s statements is beyond me. It is true that some people regard tagging as an art form. In fact, there are places where one can legally tag. There have been exhibitions of tagging, and some people even make a living from selling their tagging as pieces of art. Of course, some people may not class this as art, but some would say the same about a Jackson Pollock painting. Dr Kiro was simply stating what is already well known, and the mere fact McVicar takes issue with this demonstrates just how much of a moron he is. 

McVicar’s statements are offensive to all victims of crime and demonstrate that victim’s rights have taken a back seat to his desire for headlines and publicity. As such, his position on the “Sensible” Sentencing Trust has become untenable, and he should take his own advice and resign. It is a sad reflection on society when even those who claim to champion the rights of victims attempt to justify the taking of such a young life.

 

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