Is Huckabee to Blame for Maurice Clemmons?

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "Everyone seems to be pointing to the clemency given to a young Maurice Clemmons (16 at the time of his initial crime spree) in 1989 by then-governor Mike Huckabee as the sole reason for his current cop-killing activity.  Huckabee has defended himself suggesting it's the parole board who really released Clemmons into the general public."

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "A Commutation of a sentence is not the same thing as a Pardon. Pardons in Ark, are done through the parole board, not the Governor. Commutation made this person eligible for parole, which is granted after the parole review board decides.  facts, just the facts, not sensationalist journalism."

His actions lead to a perversion of justice (Deut 16:19) and he bears responsibility.  How does a man go from preacher to politician by the way?  Talk about a great demotion. 

What a tragedy.  He needs to tell the families and the country that he was wrong and ask for forgiveness. 

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "Amazing how some Americans won't do it, knowing how forgiving America the Christian nation is.  All he has to do is say he is sorry publicly and mean it. Same with Tiger."

That's a good point.  We are a forgiving nation.  We just want people to admit when they did wrong.  He could not have given his response much thought.  People are disappointed in him that's for sure. 

I'll take a little issue with you on Tiger though.  He got caught--this is why he's so upset.  It is not as if he stopped his adultery on his own.  Love the crocodile tears from these disgraced men.  :rolleyes:  Of course today, does anyone still call adultery a disgrace?  We won't stone him (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:24) because we are nicer than God.  He'll get a new endorsement. 

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "...[I]t was the theft of cell phone and a handful of household appliances and purse snatching we're talking about here) was deeply unjust in proportion to the crime committed."

No

"He brought a gun to his high school. He robbed people while telling them he had a gun. There were five separate incidents, and eight felony convictions for Maurice Clemmons prior to Huckabee's clemency.

* Sentenced to 5 years for robbery in Pulaski County, Aug. 3, 1989.

* Sentenced to 8 years for burglary, theft and probation revocation in Pulaski County, Sept. 9, 1989

* Sentenced to an indeterminate amount for aggravated robbery and theft in Pulaski County, Nov. 15, 1989

* Sentenced to 20 years each for burglary and theft of property in Pulaski County, Feb. 23, 1990.

* Sentenced to 6 years for firearm possession in Pulaski County, Nov. 19, 1990.

The record shows Clemmons went on a crime spree in 1988-89. In November 1988, Clemmons punched a 7th grader in the face and stole his necklace. That resulted in the initial 5-year sentence.

Clemmons turned 17 years old in February 1989. In April of that year, he broke into an Arkansas state trooper's home and stole $6,700 worth of items, including a gun. A couple of weeks later, Clemmons was arrested for bringing a gun on school property.

Less than two weeks later after the gun incident, Maurice Clemmons and an accomplice were arrested for two separate robberies on the same night. They robbed a woman in front of an Arkansas bar. Clemmons claimed he had a gun. The woman said, "Well, why don't you just shoot?". Clemmons punched her in the head and snatched her purse.

35 minutes later, Clemmons and his friend hit a man in the head and stole his $500 gold chain in front of a convenience store. They were also questioned about two other similar robberies and one attempted robbery that occurred the same night.

There were also three separate courtroom incidents in 1990 where Clemmons tried to use a weapon against a judge, threw a padlock at a bailiff, and tried to take a guard's pistol. A judge ordered Clemmons be placed in leg shackles because he felt Clemmons has threatened him. Clemmons also displayed very erratic behavior during the trial, mumbling loudly throughout the proceedings. He also made an obscene gesture toward a state trooper testifying against him. There is a definite pattern of showing a complete lack of respect, and a lot of hostility, toward authority figures.

Clemmons would not have been eligible for parole until 2015. Mike Huckabee's commutation in 2000 made him eligible immediately. Clemmons was granted parole just one month later. He was sentenced to 108 total years for 8 different felonies. Clemmons served only 11.

Clemmons immediately went back to a life of crime. Nine years later, he raped a 12 year old girl, then murdered four Washington State police officers. Huckabee says given the same facts that he had back then, he would still grant the clemency..." Full text:  Huckabee is lying about cop killers criminal record in Arkansas

Biblical justice would be death (Deut. 22:25).  When we don't follow God's plan additional people suffer.

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  The highlighted charges [Sentenced to 20 years each for burglary and theft of property in Pulaski County, Feb. 23, 1990] are the only ones which Huckabee granted clemency for, no reduction of sentence was given on the other charges, and according to the actual clemency paperwork it was originally 30 years for each of those counts."

Ok, that makes everything better.

Here's the point--he walked the streets.  Huckabee played a role in that.  He is responsible for contributing to the perversion of justice (Deut 16:19).

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "So you believe that it is just that a 16-year old be sentenced to 30 years of hard labor for stealing a cell phone and a handful of household appliances?"

I believe Huckabee should have stayed out of it.

Is Huckabee to Blame for Maurice Clemmons?