A Plea for Mercy for Gary McKinnon

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Hi All,

This is my plea for mercy for Gary McKinnon, a young man with Asperger's Syndrome who is accused of hacking into Pentagon and NASA computers. He used a simple code which he found on the internet of all places. We should congratulate Gary for showing us serious flaws in our security system. But, Gary must face extradition to the US and a possible long jail term. He is suicidal. He only wanted to collect info on UFO's and he did not intend to share it with anyone. It was just his personal special interest.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-340558

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2OVrvY3GVI

I seriously hope you aren't excusing his AS for a crime he did. He knew what he did was wrong but did it anyway. Maybe I should break into the Benny & Joon house just because I wanted to see the inside of it and then expect to not face a short term sentence. I need to be congratulated for what I did in Spokane to show everyone the inside of the house was not real and it was done on the set.

Ignorance of the law doesn't entitle one to break it.

Australia's worst serial killer attempted to claim aspergers as a defence. He's locked up now.

If Gary is truly innocent, then a court will find that. He's not likely to get a long sentence... more likely to get a job.

lol, I can tell your not from the US, our justice system is so messed up that it is likely because it was a invasion of the pentagon computer system, it is likely that he will be in jail for a loooooong time no matter what, as they will just label him as a terrorist. Hell, they send MR people with the IQ of a five year old to the electric chair and fry there ass, all they have to do is find the person competent to stand trial, that dosent really mean that they are.

If he knew what he did was wrong, then I dont expect him to get off free just because he has aspergers, but getting a fair trial for something like he did, I dont think that will happen. His only chance is if the media jumps all over it, as then they got to worry about there image, but even then it is hard to tell what he will get.

Right, AS, and he found Jesus, and, and, tell it to the Judge.

He did it, now he will stand trial for it.

Gary discovered AS after he got caught. He was never autistic before.

He is using us AS an excuse, he is malinging Autism.

Give him the max for defaming the good name of a lot of rule following people.

What he did is not known, that will come out at the trial.

The Pentagon is claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, he admits leaving messages, if he left nothing, took nothing, the entire file still needs to be gone through to prove that.

He commited a cyber attack on the US, now he can pay for it.

He also commited an attack on Autism.

Gary McKinnon is not one of us, he learned of AS from a lawyer after he was caught.

AS is most pronounced in childhood, he has no record of ever being autistic before he was caught.

Gary is a spy, and a lier.

Right Roadracer, and that's why I did what I did. I do not know when or how Gary was diagnosed but that is not the issue. He honestly acts and acted like someone who has AS in my opinion. We all know we are supposed to follow the law. That is not my point. I think the sentence is far too heavy for Gary, based on my comments in the video. It's too harsh and he does need mercy. I also hope along with goddard that he gets a job. If the man in "Catch Me If You Can," who actually stole money could get one, they should give him one.

Also, the National Autism Society has a petition out to help Gary. Please watch my video for the reasons why I feel mercy should be granted--not no punishment, but not a 11-70 year prison sentence.

I am apauled by the hostility here, faced with the prospect of a US prison sentence I'd use any tack I can to avoid it and this is from people who know how serious the depression at the prospect of a long sentence in a foreign goal.

Personally I think he should be given a knighthood and asked to hack into the pentagon and do the job properly and crash the lot!

Having had to deal with bullies all my life I get a bit peeved when my Country is bullied. He (Gary) is clearly being made a scapegoat by the our wimpy British and the US governments.

While I will never condone the use of AS as an excuse to commit crime and believe Mr. McKinnon needs to face the consequences of his action, I am concerned that an extradition treaty is being used retroactively to give him harsher punishment than he would otherwise receive- ie the penalty he will face is stricter than the penalty that was in place for the alleged crimes at the time they were committed. This is in direct violation of the US Constitution and basic human decency. You shouldn't change the rules halfway through the game, as this is fundamentally unfair. He should be tried under the laws that were in effect when his crimes were committed, and be punished according to those laws.

Another important point to consider is that the reason he is being extradited is because of an anti-terrorism law. Clearly, Gary McKinnon is not a terrorist. This shows again the insanity of America and yes, I agree they are bullying England.

AS is no excuse for bad behavior.. but Gary was collecting knowledge about a special interest and it got out of hand. He never intended to share it. It was just his hobby. Totally innocent. Not to hurt anyone. If you knew how to break in and find out the truth of UFO's, wouldn't you be curious too? I'm not justifying breaking the law. I'm just saying, "Come on! 11-70 years in prison for this?"

No one knows what Gary did, but the courts will have all the evidence.

At the least his "hobby" caused some expensive damage.

This is not the first case of the British spying on America.

Asperger's Syndrome has nothing to do with his actions, the trial, and could only be considered after the trial.

Gary only discovered it after he was charged.

A cyber attack on the Pentagon is a terrorist act.

From what I gathered the original request for extradition was blocked, so then it was redrawn under much stiffer laws. Gary can thank his own government for not sending him under the milder laws.

It did seem they were covering it up, blocking extradition, and trying to laugh off being caught.

We really differ on this point. I completely disagree with what you said and I do not see Gary in that light at all. But, each has a right to his own opinion.

It is also of note to mention that when Gary broke in the computers, he saw people logged into the same computer from all over the world, hacking. He was among quite a few. As someone commented on my YouTube video, USA would rather have him drawn and quartered than fix the defects of their security system. He is a scapegoat and they want to make an example of him.

I don't care whether the guy has AS or not (His mother did state early in the case that he had an autism diagnosis) but the proposed sentence is ridiculous. He wasn't hacking the internet to be a terrorist like Bin-Laden, just to find information. There are people being murdered in this country with their criminal getting only 3-4 years behind bars. I'd pop him up in court, fine him give him a slap on the wrist and send him off with a stern warning.

AS influences one's nature, not their decisions.

What some people don't realize is that Gary turned himself in. He told them he was scared he couldn't control his obsession and compulsion. He also admitted what content he was looking into and why, before he even had a lawyer present. He expects to pay a penalty, but let's look at this situation compassionately.