Were we living in a country of vigilante justice where the punishment for burglary was death, then Martin should not have been convicted. Thankfully we don't live in such a country. People who are driven to attempted murder in response to such provocation are certainly victims in many senses, but that doesn't make it OK for them to start executing kids - not even antisocial ones.


On one hand, death is the ultimate price, and shouldn't be handed out so lightly. On the other hand it's no effort to avoid it in this case. Choosing to not burgle is in fact the "do nothing" alternative. If you go out of your way to put yourself in such a situation, you're implicitly agreeing to whatever mistreatment comes your way. (in my opinion )

"We don't have a death sentence for burglary in this country and we don't want one either."


I wouldn't cry too hard over one for stupidity. "Don't steal" is a pretty simple concept.