Societies that have draconian punishment for minor infractions tend to take the view that their punishment is fitting and proportional because it's much harder

Societies that have draconian punishment for minor infractions tend to take the view that their punishment is fitting and proportional because it's much harder to steal stuff without hands. Where is gets interesting is when they take a hard-line stance on some things but not on others. Like you get a slap on the wrist for theft from another commoner but if you're caught stealing fish from the lord's stream without the proper license you're strung up by your thumbs in some castle dungeon for a month.