Conservative Christians hate the sin but love the sinner. Without repentence there can be no redemption. If the sinner continues to go about sinning we can feel sorrow for him and embrace him to help him along, we cannot accept or embrace his horrible deeds.
Some addicts lash out violently at society (even drunks do this, witness bar shootings) while others steal to feed their addictions. Should a convenience store robber get a lighter sentence because he is struggling with an addiction?
That's not part of the issue. You're talking about violent offenders. You never have a right to commit armed robbery or lash out violently.
Rush like many conservatives has had little sympathy for those who are addicted to hard drugs and so to a large extent I can't really feel sorry for him more than I would for anyone who has an addiction. If Rush had been more of a champion of the principle that it is your body, not society's, then that would be different.
Either you are the absolute owner of your mind and body or you aren't. There is no exception to this rule. Either you have exclusive right of property in them or the government does.
Convenience store robbers shouldn't be prosecuted atr all.
Have you seen what 7-11 charges for a bottle of aspirin?
The robber is just following their example, is all.