Do you think arsonists should be tried for attempted murder charges when setting life and home threatening wildfires?

Sounds good to me!

Attempted murder is a pretty serious charge. Unless you can prove motive they are probably just a dick or bored teenager.

I get that it affects and you are all MURDER THEM. That is probably not the best response.

My POV is that if one sets a fire that threatens homes and humans they are guilty of premeditated intent to take lives. They can argue all freaking day long that was not their intent but by the act they commit the potential for death is high and they should be punished accordingly with 1st degree murder charges.

It’s not attempted murder, so… no.

It’s too complicated to throw a blanket over.

In some cases, arson does lead to attempted murder charges, but as far as I know, it is mostly with cases where they have a specific target, or targets in mind.
It would be nice to require prisoners doing time for arson to fight wildfires as restitution to the community, but I doubt that could work very well.

There have been cases where the driver of a getaway car (who did not participate in any other way) involved in a robbery where someone was killed have been SUCCESSFULLY prosecuted on murder charges, I don’t see this as that much of a stretch.

It’s entirely forseeable that setting a fire has the potential for killing others.

There was also another case where a bunch of bored teenagers decided to rob a neighbor’s house, thinking no one was home.

The house owner ended up shooting and killing one of the teens. The other teens involved were prosecuted for his death (SUCCESSFULLY btw).

Arsonists certainly have a lot more malicious intent than a bunch of bored teens robbing a house on a lark.

So, if they charge an arsonist with attempted murder, I won’t be shedding any tears or contributing to his defense fund~

What’s that old saying from the Berretta song?

Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.

I agree that the damage they caused is pretty serious and can be compared to that of a 1st degree murder. But… are you sure they set the fire because they intentionally want everyone to die? Like @johnpowell said, it may not be intentional murder, so serious charges seem like a bit too much…

No.
No wait, YES!
But in return, I want every smoker be slapped with an attempted murder charge for trying to cause cancer in other people by subjecting them to their fumes.

If the fire was set with the intention of killing people, then attempted murder is a reasonable charge. The trouble of course comes in proving it. Bad judgement can indeed be criminal, but it’s difficult to specifically criminalize stupidity as a statutory offense. There’s a big difference between careless negligence and deliberate arson

I think the arsonist might be convicted of first degree murder, according to what’s known as the felony murder rule. According to Nolo.com discussion on arson, “Arson is an inherently dangerous act. Under a legal principle known as the “felony murder rule,” most states’ criminal statutes say that an arsonist who starts a fire that causes a person’s death can be found guilty of murder, even if the death was not intended.”

No, but I would be fine with a (federal?) law created to address the issue.

“We charge you with arson during a drought with the intention of damaging nature, wildlife and personal property.”

@Yetanotheruser Yes, right on!
My take is that one automatically shows intent to harm or possibly kill by the sheer nature of their act of fire starting. I don’t care how mentally screwed up the person is, short of being completely psychotic and not in touch with reality. If that can be proven.

Otherwise, when you start a raging fore knowing homes, humans and animals, livestock are at risk you have already shown reckless intent and I think attempted murder charges are in order. They are holding this suspect on 10 million dollar bail. Mind blowing, the whole thing. Local guy that burned up his own backyard sop to speak. Bah!

Here’s the living hell we are coping with now.

www.yubanet.com/nevada/King.php

76,00 acres burned, only 10% contained.
4,425 fire fighting personnel, fast, uphill runs, numerous residences evacuated, massive road closures. Only those of us that live with the threat of raging wildfires can understand the terror of something like this.
Over here, between this property and the closet neighbors we have over 50 animals that would need to be evacuated.

2 dozen head of cattle, 9 horses, donkeys, goats, chickens, geese, ducks, dogs, cats.
How dare some fuckhead wantonly, potentially, create a massacre of this proportion!

It is truly, truly terrible.

The latest too, all the wildlife being displaced, deer, cougars coming down into towns and, classic asshole, some guy shot a mama bear and her 2 cubs in his yard. Officials are telling people to ignore the poor animals, do not offer food or water, just let them go about trying to find a safe haven. My daughter just told me she saw 2 deer, side by side, dead on the road this afternoon.
If you map even one creature per acre, we’re talking 75,000 displaced wild animals of all kinds, minimum. :-(

@Coloma

Thanks for the Yubanet.com site. It’s the most informative I’ve seen so far.

I understand your strong feelings of responsibility for the animals on this ranch, but how close does this thing have to be before you figure you have to bug out? You have a line in the sand, a canyon, a highway, or other landmark that, if crossed, you figure it’s time to GTFO?

@Espiritus_Corvus We’re okay, but the fire has crossed the El Dorado Co. line into Placer Co. here, about 25–30 miles up the back countries southeastern ridge.
Being a homeboy to a lot of this area do you remember the Rubicon trail area between Tahoe and Georgetown areas? It’s raging there.
So far, so good, but, most surmise the containment # is moot, just a way to give the illusion that they are making progress.

5% last Saturday and 10% today is a joke. There is no containment, period.
We’d have plenty of warning so no worries, for now.

I’d say charge them for first-degree stupidity.

@Coloma Firefighters really do believe that they put out wildfires, but this is just an illusion. The best they can do is keep the fire off of the most valued structures until the rain comes.

@dappled_leaves Pretty much. :-(

@Coloma

Yeah, I see that the fire is on the Rubicon and straddling the American River Canyon. Damn. That is beautiful country. My big brother and I would camp up there with our dogs, fish for trout, hike all day long, climb those cliffs along the river, and—my favorite—explore the caves. We were young Paiute braves, expecting Hoss or Little Joe to come around the next bend on horseback… or Barbara Stanwyck up from the Valley to see old Ben Cartwright. Those were very good days, incredible memories. It’s a bit upsetting that it’s all going up in smoke and won’t be there when this old man goes back to retrace some of those memories.

Ha. 5%, 10%, you know how people are. Some news is better than no news. Hearing 10% means they’ve got somebody out there fighting it and that’s what people need to hear right now.

Just be smart, Laurie, don’t be too damn noble about those animals. Just cut them loose if you have to.

Bloody hell, give me a good old category 5 hurricane any day. The Wild West can keep their Wild Fires—on that side of the Mississippi, thank you very much.

@Espiritus_Corvus Haha…a hurricane would be a dream. Lovely sentiments too, yep, memories, of the way things were. Those were the days, ey?
Thanks for the well wishes, a cool evening descends and the smoke id blowing away from us right now.

Heh…so the latest on the lunatic that they arrested. He set the fire, broke into a empty house and called in his own arson, but…he’s pleading NOT GUILTY!
If it weren’t so pathetic I’d laugh.

Pushing 90,000 acres today, day 11 and only 35% contained.
Red flag warnings due to high winds and low humidity may hinder progress made by tomorrow night. Maybe rain Thurs.
They have now added another 2000 fresh firefighters for a total of 7,400 firefighters from all over.

Pray for my beautiful mountains tonight. Not looking good. :-(

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FxgfDSXY70