Shannon Richardson Sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for trying to poison Obama and former mayor of New York

[Roma_Victrix]

Shannon Richardson, a minor actress known for her roles in the Walking Dead series has recently been convicted for 18 years for attempting to poison the President of the United States Barack Obama as well as the now former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg and one of his associates. The reason cited in her letter was that she thought Obama was going to come and take her guns away.

Shannon Richardson gets 18-year jail term for posting ricin



Her Wikipedia page says she is simply a criminal. Is this entirely accurate? Isn't she a domestic terrorist in the same vein as Timothy McVeigh (i.e. the Oklahoma City Bomber)? Albeit one who didn't successfully carry out a bombing, or in her case a triple assassination of political figures via poisoning. She did try to pin it on her estranged husband, though, in an attempt to frame him and absolve herself from this crime.

I think the Maester Pycelle from Game of Thrones was right: poison is a woman's weapon...and that of eunuchs. I'm surprised she didn't put her gun collection to good use and try to go out in a blaze of glory trying to storm the White House.

[Heathen Hammer]

Poor woman. Also how is she a terrorist? Sending poisoned letters is a crime, but how is it an act of terror?

[Roma_Victrix]

Poor woman. Also how is she a terrorist? Sending poisoned letters is a crime, but how is it an act of terror?

Poor woman, how? As in: "aw! It's a shame that she's so insane." That kind of poor? I fail to see how someone like this can garner sympathy, a woman who tried to frame her husband for an attempted murder of three political figures including the POTUS.

I suppose you could argue she's a terrorist for targeting the president, the most high profile target and one that would surely strike fear and panic in the public (one of the main goals of terrorism). It's a bit more scary than even a sniper shooting Kennedy, since any politician who doesn't have security to screen this stuff could open up a letter and boom: say hello to ricin and an early grave! It's true, though, that she did not target random civilians, so I suppose she's not a terrorist in the same vein as Timothy McVeigh now that I think about it.

[Heathen Hammer]

Poor woman, how? As in: "aw! It's a shame that she's so insane." That kind of poor? I fail to see how someone like this can garner sympathy, a woman who tried to frame her husband for an attempted murder of three political figures including the POTUS.

18 years is still a rather harsh sentence for attempting to commit a crime.

I suppose you could argue she's a terrorist for targeting the president, the most high profile target and one that would surely strike fear and panic in the public (one of the main goals of terrorism). It's a bit more scary than even a sniper shooting Kennedy, since any politician who doesn't have security to screen this stuff could open up a letter and boom: say hello to ricin and an early grave! It's true, though, that she did not target random civilians, so I suppose she's not a terrorist in the same vein as Timothy McVeigh now that I think about it.

He isn't technically civilian, so this isn't terrorism. I think some people view any action against US government as "terrorism" these days, which isn't correct, of course.

[Dante Von Hespburg]

18 years is still a rather harsh sentence for attempting to commit a crime.

He isn't technically civilian, so this isn't terrorism. I think some people view any action against US government as "terrorism" these days, which isn't correct, of course.

It's not really that harsh, considering the typical sentences for attempted murder- CPS for instance:

Level 2

Other planned attempt to kill

• Nature of offence: Serious and long term physical or psychological harm
  Starting point: 20 years custody
  Sentencing range: 17 - 25 years custody
• Nature of offence: Some physical or psychological harm
  Starting point: 15 years custody
  Sentencing range: 12 - 20 years custody
• Nature of offence: Little or no physical or psychological harm
  Starting point: 10 years custody
  Sentencing range: 7 - 15 years custody

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/s...empted_murder/

So it's about right really.

But i definently wouldn't say this is terrorism. Perhaps stupidity and/or just plain murder.

EDIT:

Posted the wrong part

Level 1

The most serious offences including those which (if the charge had been murder) would come within para. 4 or para. 5 of schedule 21 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 [see below for its terms)

• Nature of offence: Serious and long term physical or psychological harm
  Starting point: 30 years custody
  Sentencing range: 27 - 35 years custody
• Nature of offence: Some physical or psychological harm
  Starting point: 20 years custody
  Sentencing range: 17 - 25 years custody
• Nature of offence: Little or no physical or psychological harm
  Starting point: 15 years custody
  Sentencing range: 12 - 20 years custody

[Roma_Victrix]

18 years is still a rather harsh sentence for attempting to commit a crime.

Well, trying to murder someone - in this case three people or more, including the president - isn't exactly like stealing a loaf of bread or failing to get your emissions inspection done on your car. It's the most serious crime one can commit, up there with rape and battery. It should carry a hefty prison term by default, with varying degrees of sentencing for manslaughter versus second and first degree murder. Although arrested in Texas, a state notorious for its record of capital punishment, she wasn't sentenced to death at least. She's clearly a danger to society, especially to political figures she happens to dislike, and a danger to her husband who she tried to frame for all of this.

He isn't technically civilian, so this isn't terrorism. I think some people view any action against US government as "terrorism" these days, which isn't correct, of course.

Fair enough, I was thinking more of the fear factor that would have been involved with the sudden death of the president and how that would have impacted the public, which would no doubt be crapping its pants over the threat of ricin-laced letters. There was already mass hysteria over anthrax sent in the mail during the Bush administration, targeting US senators and killing five people.

[Dr Zoidberg]

18 years is still a rather harsh sentence for attempting to commit a crime.

Attempting to commit a crime? Did you miss the bit where she sent ricin-laced letters?

[Phier]

The word here is would be "assassin" not "terrorist".

Assassins have targets, in this case politically motivated. The goal was to kill someone specific not terrorize a population.

[Ima Farmathar]

Poor woman, how? As in: "aw! It's a shame that she's so insane." .

Well sir, some of us are turned on by all the crazy. Besides that, she is kind of hot

[Roma_Victrix]

Well sir, some of us are turned on by all the crazy. Besides that, she is kind of hot

She's almost a decade older than me, but yeah...why not...I'd pay her a conjugal visit.

And since she's so bad and naughty for attempting to commit murder then she gets a spanking too.

[Ima Farmathar]

And since she's so bad and naughty for attempting to commit murder then she gets a spanking too.

I was thinking more along the lines of tarring and feathering, but you know with honey or something like that…

[Toho]

she reminds me of those morons at that ranch that had drawn weapons against the police.

they should have been arrested.

[Condottiere 40K]

Probably cascaded, by sending a poison through the US Postal Service.

The Secret Service has lost their sense of humour since 1963.

[The Gurkhan]

Sooner or later Barry's luck will run out.

[Condottiere 40K]

Using methods that recklessly endanger and possibly damage the collateral.

[Roma_Victrix]

Using methods that recklessly endanger and possibly damage the collateral.

That's precisely what the anthrax-filled mail did in the 2001 scare. It did not kill the US senators it was intended for, but it did kill five other people who were unfortunate enough to open the packages. It also infected 17 other people.

[DaniCatBurger]

The comment claims, she said that she wanted to frame her husband.

[Seether]

The reason cited in her letter was that she thought Obama was going to come and take her guns away.

The comment claims, she said that she wanted to frame her husband.

Yes, she forged the letter so people would think it was her husband. The letter she wrote (which she pretended to be her husband) said that he was doing the act because he thought Obama was going to take his guns, all of which was a complete forgery.

Roma, fix your OP.

[Sir Adrian]

Using methods that recklessly endanger and possibly damage the collateral.

That only makes her a sloppy assassin not a terrorist. If I call the cops and lie about bombs being placed at various points in the city with the intent of spreading panic, that's terrorism even though I did not kill anyone. If I put a bullet through O'Reilly's head I'm an assassin.

What president in his right mind would pardon someone who tried to murder the previous president?

One who wants to win the southern states vote?

There's a lot of people over yonder who would build a statue for whoever killed the "communist antichrist from Kenya"

[alhoon]

Isn't she a domestic terrorist in the same vein as Timothy McVeigh (i.e. the Oklahoma City Bomber)? Albeit one who didn't successfully carry out a bombing, or in her case a triple assassination of political figures via poisoning. She did try to pin it on her estranged husband, though, in an attempt to frame him and absolve herself from this crime.

Seems like she is a murderer. She didn't use fear as a weapon, she "just" wanted to kill those that she thought disagree with her. Since she tried to FRAME someone else for her crime, I think she is not insane and perfectly capable of realizing the consequences of her actions.
She's just a killer.

And I think she should get life in prison. Or better:

Keep her in death row for 2 1/2 years and then Obama arranging for her penalty to change to life in prison just before he leaves the presidency. So she has to thank him and be grateful for his mercy. That would be better.


Aaaand: What is Ricin?