Brittney Griner gets 9 years. What do you think?

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
I honestly don't feel sorry for her or the other guy from the US (can't remember his name...Wheeler??) that got caught with "medical" marijuana in his bag at the Russian airport and got 14 years. He had been to Russia before to teach, I believe, so you can't tell me he was ignorant of the "rules". Brittney Griner is just plain stupid, in my opinion.
 

I don't either .... I haven't heard "his" complete story, but "hers" is the one being discussed. That said , she had to know she was breaking a law, not too many places where "drugs" / "narcotics" of any kind are permitted. So she rolled the dice & got caught. Do I think the sentence is a tad stong/severe ? yes I do but .... It is their law [Russia] and their right to enforce it as they do
 
Don't try to carry any Woolite into Russia .... my aunt had a lengthy detention at Customs when traveling there years ago.
Took them quite a while to figure out what it was! šŸ˜„

iu
 
It was a foolish arrogant thing to do.

Very much like the young man who chose to travel to North Korea and foolishly misbehave.

I also believe that our government is sending a dangerous message to the traveling public that she is being held illegally.

When in Rome ā€¦

I think that eventually she will be released with the proposed or enhanced prisoner swap.

Iā€™m not sure that is a good idea either.

I believe that our government should provide travel alerts or warnings and leave it at that if people choose to ignore them.
 
I like to watch the Border Security YouTube videos and it seems like people are constantly caught carrying a little weed or a pot brownie etc. On the Canada ones if the amount is small they just refuse entry to the person. I read that the Russian sentence was harsher than normal, but I don't know how true that is, but if it was made harsher due to the political/Ukraine stuff that is going on, that is not justice for Ms Griner.
 
I think they are trying to make an example of her because she is an oversized Gay Black Female, already pretty vulnerable. I think pot is probably coming across their borders every day without action.
That being said I think it is stupid for users to assume they can get away with it.
 
I feel sorry for Ms. Griner, totally excessive sentencing, but wouldn't be surprised if there weren't political considerations. As was so delicately mentioned by some- it was poor judgement at best, I'm sure she and the rest of the basketball team had been advised not to bring a whole list of forbidden items. Totalitarian regimes (as one might suspect) have zero tolerance for rules violations, especially by travelers from the Free World.
 
I feel bad for her, it was just a careless mistake on her part. I believe what she had was legal in the US, and she wasn't trying to game the system or smuggle drugs into Russia. She's a victim of Putin and his regime, since he is actively committing genocide in Ukraine, he's using her as an example and a potential bargaining chip. The sentence is too long for the crime, but not unexpected coming from Russia. I wish the best for her, and hope she can somehow get back home.
 
Probably too much, however I know few of the facts. Things that would be important to know before deciding:
  • She claims she did not know the drugs were there, is this credible? If they were planted she deserves release and an apology.
  • Assuming they were hers, how much was it realistic to think she planned to distribute them?
  • Did she acquire them legally in the US, or somewhere that cannabis is legal? If so did she know they were not legal in Russia?
  • What sentences do Russian citizens get under similar circumstances? If this is the treatment Russians get its hard to argue an American should be treated differently.
Then it would be clearer. My gut feeling is that she was stupid, but is getting the max so the Russians have someone to trade...
 
If a person is going to visit another country, especially a place like Russia, they need to follow the laws of that nation. If they fail to do so, they have only themselves to blame.

Now it look like she may be part of a "prisoner swap" that is being negotiated, that would swap her for a Russian being held in the U.S.. However, that could take months...if it even happens.
 
Most all posts here have been similar and I agree......
If traveling it is wise to KNOW what the laws are etc before you get there....
Like @Alligatorob said there are some facts that would shed light on it like is that a realistic sentence for a citizen also or is it excessive hoping to use as leverage. I think she knew what was in her luggage or whatever
playing they are not mine i do not know how they got there is the oldest ploy of everyone holding contraband.
 
Well, she has played 7 seasons of basketball in Russia and lived there while doing so. Seems like she might have had a clue about what would happen if caught with drugs. So, sorry... took your chance's and lost. Unfortunately this is what happens when spoiled Americans venture into foreign countries with an "I'm special" attitude.
I used to see a lot of this while staying in Mexico. People would come down there and act like... I'm American, I'm special and therefore I've got rights. Not always so.
 
squatting dog said:
Well, she has played 7 seasons of basketball in Russia and lived there while doing so. Seems like she might have had a clue about what would happen if caught with drugs. So, sorry... took your chance's and lost. Unfortunately this is what happens when spoiled Americans venture into foreign countries with an "I'm special" attitude.
I used to see a lot of this while staying in Mexico. People would come down there and act like... I'm American, I'm special and therefore I've got rights. Not always so.
Click to expand...
This is the critical point. She has played in Russia in the off-season since 2014. It would be safe to assume that she was aware of the laws / tolerances in that country, especially given the historical tenuous relationship between the US and Russia. In other words, she knew better.
 

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