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Do you think, if the FBI hadn't gotten involved, that he would have had the initiative to put this plan, or any similar plan, into action himself? Based on the
by dnr 11y ago
Do you think, if the FBI hadn't gotten involved, that he would have had the initiative to put this plan, or any similar plan, into action himself?
Based on the article, it seems to me that he almost certainly would not have. He appears to be naive, gullible, and latching on to one thing or other for direction. When placed on a perfectly set up stage for doing something horrible, he did it. But without that perfect stage, what would he have done? He's clearly not a "good person", and could definitely be described as "immoral". But it's not clear to me that he's a criminal and deserves jail time. It seems like he didn't meet the requirements for an entrapment defense, at least according to the jury. But it still seems very close to entrapment: he's essentially being punished for a a tendency or a willingness to do horrible things, even if he would never have done them without specific encouragement.
- simonh 11y agoHe was actively looking for ways to carry out an attack. Do you seriously think if the FBI hadn't got in the way, he would have stopped doing that? He doesn't seem any less capable or motivated than the Tsarnaev brothers.