Vick’s actions, reactions and poor judgment throughout this entire process has been disappointing and obviously criminal in nature. And he certainly deserved jail time, but I think 23 months (and especially the eight years proposed by one Hokie fan) is entirely too harsh. Not because I don’t value the lives of animals, because I love animals and what he did was horrible. But, if you step back and take a look at the bigger relative legal picture, his punishment was excessive.
The aforementioned Hokie fan who recommended eight years brought up the legal troubles of Ray and Jamaal Lewis, and I am glad he did because it only goes to serve my point.
In 2000, Ray Lewis plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice and served 1 year of probation in exchange for testifying against two friends who were also present at the scene of a double murder. This after he was indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges following the stabbing deaths of two men on Jan. 31, 2000.
In 2005, Jamaal Lewis served a four-month prison term for trying to set up a cocaine deal with a cell phone. He was subsequently suspended four games in the 2005 season due to drug charges.
Additionally, in 1998, Leonard Little of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams killed Susan Gutweiler in St. Louis, Missouri while driving drunk. When tested, his blood alcohol level measured 0.19 percent. Little received 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1,000 hours of community service.
There at least two NFL players still in the league that were directly involved in the deaths of other human beings. One received no jail time and the other served 90 days … for killing a wife and a mother.
The fact that Ray Lewis and Michael Vick had the same lawyer only furthers my argument that the punishment to Vick is unfair, relatively speaking of course. How can a man be directly involved in the murders of two people and get off with probation, but another man killed dogs and receives nearly two years in a federal prison? Has the value of human life become so devalued that society is more outraged over the killing of animals than the brutal murders of two men or the senseless killing of a wife and mother? Sadly, the answer is yes.
Vick’s sentencing is a culmination and punishment for the sins of an entire generation and culture of professional athletes in my opinion. His punishment was excessively harsh and he now serves as the example for current and future NFL players.
Additionally, Vick’s sentencing sets a precedent to which all future legal infractions will be measured against. Any future judge or jury will be scrutinized for verdicts levied against future pro athletes for their criminal activities. If you get two years for killing dogs, punishments for crimes against fellow human beings will be expected to carry a much longer prison term.
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