A crime is a crime.
However punishments should fit them. If he is starving turn him out with a slap on the wrist. If he insists, send him to where he has no risk of starvation with a warm bed and a nice work detail.
This is going to get interesting. Takes free stuff to a whole new level.
Italy is finished.
This isn’t really something new, Mosaic law had the same stipulations... the poor and starving may eat their fill in the fields without punishment etc.
What I find interesting is the guy bought an item, but tried to steal 2 more.... so, was this many truly desperate for food?
I don’t think the story provides enough detail.
Well, good. I can stop feeling bad about walking out of Jerry’s Big Boy 50 years ago without paying for that hamburger. After all, I was hungry.
Reminds me of an incident in Haiti many years ago as told by our missionaries there.
They were going through an outdoor market when someone grabbed some food and ran.
Almost immediately the Ton-Ton Macutes were on him and beat him to a pulp.
The missionaries were horrified until a shop owner came out and told them that it was necessary because if ONE PERSON got away with it, everyone would then grab and steal everything within their reach and no one could have a shop.
Reminds me of forty five years ago when hippies would go into a grocery store and begin eating whatever they could get their hands on.
Here’s take the candlesticks... you forgot them...
Wrong ruling. He committed a serious crime and should go to prison. If the Italian government does not like that outcome, they should change their welfare system to feed people like this thief, but store owners should not be the welfare system.
Several friends of mine have gone bankrupt when their retail stores lost money to shoplifters. Judges should not encourage theft or any other crime.
According to longstanding Catholic teaching, a person can steal food if there is no other recourse, and he would otherwise die. Today, there are many resources available to the destitute. All civilized countries have generous benefits for the poor. There is no longer any reason for someone to steal. However, some individuals may not have the mental capacity to know what they should do, and so they should not be charged with a crime, but referred to the social services.
How about a truckload? U-Haul full? Back seat full?