One of the things that opened Pandora's box in the U.S. with regard to "sex work" is that many of the purveyors were trafficked into prostitution as children. When their legitmately pitiable stories were publicized, liberals siezed on the opportunity to excoriate "the patriarchy" for shaming and imprisoning them. On down the line with having been abused in childhood, being mentally ill, many other excuses for not punishing behaviors that harm society.
Likewise with these Salvadorian gang criminals, doubtless many were groomed into this behavior from early childhood. I used to live among the Italian-American mafia, I have seen it in person. And also likewise, our feral population—many were literally born into toxic disorder and would require a Divine miracle to get straight.
Liberals want to tell us that adults out of these conditions do not have any true responsibility for their crimes. That may be some kind of a point; but the rest of us have a society to run and a country to save.
I am all in favor of effective means of therapy for non-violent offenders, if our greedy elites would only budget these enormous costs instead of meddling in foreign wars. But even the most depraved person has a soul, and in time will develop a conscience, no matter how primitive. Even dogs and cats understand not to harass another who has given a warning growl, or to steal others' food—or face violent retribution. Some will never listen to their own better angels. But some will indeed be filled with bitter regret and the wisdom of experience.
So I was glad to see that this prison was teaching the gospel to these prisoners. The souls of some may be redeemable, in time. They are marked for life with their tattoos, so that even physical escape will not result in freedom. The only door open to them is repentance that will allow them the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Bttt
I think all souls are “redeemable.”
That is not a conscience.
That is "smack wrong, candy right".
And it is how you train animals and small children. Also remember that they have short attention spans so that the reward punishment needs to happen quickly.
A conscience is when you do the right thing not because you are going to get a reward or avoid doing the wrong thing because you will be punished but you do it simply because you know the difference and choose the right as best you can.
Once you do a violent act toward the innocent you either are repulsed and stop or you develop a taste for it and continue.
Do I think people who are repeatedly violent toward others who have done them no wrong can change?
In theory.
Do they?
Barring a genuine religious experience or a head injury, no.
Should they be locked up forever?
Yes.
They are an unacceptable risk.
Well said.