But - kicking a cat around till it dies is barbaric, as is scalding a child, as it setting fire to a dog, as is throwing a child down a flight of stairs.
the mentality involved in any such malicious action needs tempering, physical reinforcement is my suggestion - physical reinforcement is the only punishment society has now anyway - think prison, and the manner of denial of liberty that is the ideal behind imprisonment.
Prison alone isnt working for some offenders, the worst offenders in each catagory ought to be made examples of, i put to you - televised hangings, televised electricutions, televised lion feeding.
Lets make the punishment fit the crime - instead of justice being a by word for the soft option - the half measure - the incapability of society to deal with its self made horrors.
If any of you can give me 1 legitimate reason why roy whiting, gary glitter, myra hindley, ian brady, jack the ripper should have been allowed to live, then i will re-evaluate my theory.