than some goober hell raiser in the capitol
I have been thinking about this for a few days.
I think it is obvious there were three types of people there last Wednesday.
First, protestors. I have no beef with them, mostly. If they crossed a barrier, they should have been maced and beaten a little, but that goes with the territory. Stay on your side of the barrier and yell a lot, that's what you are supposed to do. I do not think they need charged, tear gas and a few club whacks should teach a lesson.
Second, clowns and weirdos. Horns guy, goofy smile guy with the speakers lectern. Crazy people can be dangerous, but I don't think these few weirdos meant harm. But fvck em, enjoy five years in prison.
Third, organized scary people. Proud Boys, militia, vagabond assholes, various breeds of Nazis and Klanners, intruders with a plan. They were beating police, came prepared for violence, were carrying printed intel with locations. Ziptie guys. These people must be dealt with harshly, ten to twenty years behind bars. I have zero doubt they planned on taking hostages or doing harm. They were organized and directed. And any official that coordinated with them in any way should get an automatic twenty years. This was a putsch, no doubt. These people are fascists, treat them like fascists.
Whoever beat that cop with a fire extinguisher, give them the needle. Personally I would prefer hanging, but we don't do that anymore.
Were there unorganized dumbasses that got caught up in the mob mentality and went inside? Yes. This shows a startling lack of judgement. Five years, tough shit. Tennessee Tear Gas Girl, I am looking at you. Texas Relator Woman, you too.
Before you Soviet Propaganda Whatabouters bring up last summer, the same rules should apply. Arsonist? Twenty years. Looters? Five years, fvck em. Kill a cop? Death penalty.