[vincesanity82]

Back in October, we reported that ex-NHL player Rob Ramage had been found guilty in the death of fellow former player Keith Magnuson. The charge? Impaired driving causing death.

The death seemed ironic since both men had just been at a funeral to mourn the death of another hockey personality. While sources and friends claimed Ramage wasn't drunk, blood tests showed Ramage had FOUR time the legal blood alcohol limit, and was more blotto than Chief Engineer Scotty.

Today, Ramage was sentenced for his crime, and got off quite light, it would seem.

Rob Ramage was called an "exemplary citizen" Thursday, but an Ontario judge said he had to send a message of deterrence against drunk driving and ordered Mr. Ramage to prison for four years for a crash that killed his friend, a former Chicago Blackhawks player.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Alexander Sosna called the accident that killed Keith Magnuson, when a car driven by Mr. Ramage slammed head-on into another vehicle just north of Toronto, on Dec. 15, 2003, "tragic and senseless."

Rob Ramage Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for DUI Death - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[blueandwhite]

I'm not taking sides, and drunk driving is one of the stupidest things a person can do - i just wonder if him doing 4 years is what should happen. he lost a great friend, he'll live with it the rest of his life and even magnusson's family has pleaded with the judge, Don't send ramage to jail.
the families have worked out their anger/sadness/forgiveness. The judge didn't take that into consideration it seems (although he could have received more than 4 years). This story has been in the paper constantly since t happened up here - ramage used to captain the leafs.
it's sad all around.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I'm not taking sides, and drunk driving is one of the stupidest things a person can do - i just wonder if him doing 4 years is what should happen. he lost a great friend, he'll live with it the rest of his life and even magnusson's family has pleaded with the judge, Don't send ramage to jail.
the families have worked out their anger/sadness/forgiveness. The judge didn't take that into consideration it seems (although he could have received more than 4 years). This story has been in the paper constantly since t happened up here - ramage used to captain the leafs.
it's sad all around.

Are you kidding me?? He got sauced up and ended up killing someone because of it, 4 yrs isnt enough IMO, ending someones life only gets you four years behind bars is pathetic, yes he does have to live with the fact he killed his friend, but that doesnt mean he should get off easy..

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I'm not taking sides, and drunk driving is one of the stupidest things a person can do - i just wonder if him doing 4 years is what should happen. he lost a great friend, he'll live with it the rest of his life and even magnusson's family has pleaded with the judge, Don't send ramage to jail.
the families have worked out their anger/sadness/forgiveness. The judge didn't take that into consideration it seems (although he could have received more than 4 years). This story has been in the paper constantly since t happened up here - ramage used to captain the leafs.
it's sad all around.

This type of subject always has several perspectives. First off a crime is a crime. Laws are written for everyone. I believe the people who get off with no punishment are the ones not being treated properly and the families of the victims are not treated fairly. Far to many people get off with no jail time for various reason from that of overcrowding to situations like this one. Fact remains that laws are in place and if there is a crime then there should be time. I haven't followed this story but my guess is that no one poured alcohol down his throat so whether or not there is agreement about the penalty between he and th f amily shouldn't change the law. If it were your child that died how would you feel then ??

[blueandwhite]

I honestly feel it depends from one situation to another. It isn't black and white- or life isn't, anyway. It's about people.
If my child was killed in a drunk driving accident how would i feel? - if it was similar to this Ramage situation, I would feel i have dealt with it and so has he. If I could be so forgiving.
It is touchy-like I said, idiots drive drunk. But these families have dealt with their grieving in an amazingly forgiving way. I think ramage will always be dealing with it, waking up every morning and knowing he killed his friend.
It's hard to compare one situation to another. So often, i am in awe of people who forgive like the magnussons have - just like the Snyder family forgave heatley. it allows people to figure out how to move on, and it is such an awe-inspiring way to be.
I understand those who think he should do more time, too. I just lean towards the way the victim's family feels and how they have spoken out. they deserve to be heard. In this case, they are dealing with it and feel that ramage does not need to go to jail to pay for the horrendous-ness of his actions.

[LSC9901]

I respect your opinion ... honestly. I just have a tendency to look at it in black & white. The law is there and there are penalties for breaking it. If you fail to put money in a parking meter you can be fined. Pure and simple. Because penalties were implemented for DUI and death resulting ... that is the direction I go in first. If all parties could agree with your (and theirs) way of thinking, then I guess that is OK.

[Phils20]

It is a touchy call. I don't believe in locking them up for life. A life sentence requiers planning, or plotting, If I understand right.

You see people all the time get light sentences for murder, by plea bargaining. If he does four years, and the families are good with it, so am I. There does have to be some punishment. That is supposed to act as a deterrent as well, so what do we tell the next person that commits the same offense?? That is the bigger question. Is it any less of a crime, by the letter of the law, if the familes are good with it?

Then we could get into precedent. I'm not sure I would want some person to plow into me drunk, and site this offense as a precedent of a lighter sentence being the appropriate thing to do.

I'm looking forward to reading more talk of this. This might get interesting.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Phils20

It is a touchy call. I don't believe in locking them up for life. A life sentence requiers planning, or plotting, If I understand right.

You see people all the time get light sentences for murder, by plea bargaining. If he does four years, and the families are good with it, so am I. There does have to be some punishment. That is supposed to act as a deterrent as well, so what do we tell the next person that commits the same offense?? That is the bigger question. Is it any less of a crime, by the letter of the law, if the familes are good with it?

Then we could get into precedent. I'm not sure I would want some person to plow into me drunk, and site this offense as a precedent of a lighter sentence being the appropriate thing to do.

I'm looking forward to reading more talk of this. This might get interesting.

As a side note I'm most certainly not advocating a life sentence for this offense. There is little to be gained by a time frame such as that if this is the only offense of this type. I do however feel that punishment of some type should be imposed. Waking up each day realizing that you took someones life certainly is a type of punishment but at the same time ... he is waking up each day.

[vincesanity82]

Am I the only seeing that the guy was 4X over the legal limit?? He chose to drive drunk, He wrecked and killed a human being, Theres no excuse for that, I dont care who he is, you all would see it differently if it was your 4yr old daughter that got killed due to the stupidity of this drunk, I dont care how sad he feels or that he may have nightmares about killing his friend, If I had did that I would be in all kinds of trouble and would definitley be in jail longer than 4 yrs. Having been an EMT Ive seen my share of wrecks, especially ones caused by drugs and alcohol, theres just no excuse for it, if you want to party and have a good time go for it but gives your keys to someone sober..

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Am I the only seeing that the guy was 4X over the legal limit?? He chose to drive drunk, He wrecked and killed a human being, Theres no excuse for that, I dont care who he is, you all would see it differently if it was your 4yr old daughter that got killed due to the stupidity of this drunk, I dont care how sad he feels or that he may have nightmares about killing his friend, If I had did that I would be in all kinds of trouble and would definitley be in jail longer than 4 yrs. Having been an EMT Ive seen my share of wrecks, especially ones caused by drugs and alcohol, theres just no excuse for it, if you want to party and have a good time go for it but gives your keys to someone sober..

That's basically what I've been saying. So you're not alone.

[ThePundit]

Four years is light in my opinion.

[blueandwhite]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Am I the only seeing that the guy was 4X over the legal limit?? He chose to drive drunk, He wrecked and killed a human being, Theres no excuse for that, I dont care who he is, you all would see it differently if it was your 4yr old daughter that got killed due to the stupidity of this drunk, I dont care how sad he feels or that he may have nightmares about killing his friend, If I had did that I would be in all kinds of trouble and would definitley be in jail longer than 4 yrs. Having been an EMT Ive seen my share of wrecks, especially ones caused by drugs and alcohol, theres just no excuse for it, if you want to party and have a good time go for it but gives your keys to someone sober..

Vince, I'm not trying to get you crazed - I just think there are so many different situations.
It wasn't my 4 year old daughter - it was a grown man who was also drinking with ramage and he got into a car knowing Ramage had been drinking.
What i said about it being in the news up here - we got it every day, headlines, back story, ongoing testimony - and there was questionable gathering of evidence. the level of alcohol in his blood was believed to be tainted because it was so ridiculously high that he couldn't have even stood let alone drive.
I guess i will always believe that yes the law is the law but people make the laws so people can change laws (not saying that's what should happen here), and verdicts and sentences can be handed out as it is specific to each case.
The one thing I do agree with more than anything, LSC - even if he is waking up with the thought that he murdered his friend, at least he is waking up.

[blueandwhite]

btw, he is appealing the verdict. keep reading about it if you can, and tell me what you think.

[jks812]

I tried sooooo hard to stay away from this thread. My oldest daughter was killed in 1998 by a drunk driver a month after she turned 18 and 10 months after she gave birth to my grand daughter. Another person was also killed. The drunk driver got 7 years. I have forgiven this person, which was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
Now as for the guy concerned in this. I imagine he feels bad and all that, but the fact is his life didn't end when he ended a life. I think any life is worth more than 4 years.
As for the other guy's family not wanting him to go to jail. All I can say is they are better than I was.

[blueandwhite]

I think you are an awe inspiring person for forgiving that driver.