I would like to see each insurrectionist in the justice system required to answer this question:

[TygrBright]

Ask this question quite seriously, and give them the option of replying on video, or in writing, but require them to answer it in detail. In fact, train questioners to ask the question and any followup question needed to elicit adequate detail in the response.

"Why did you think what you were doing was okay?" (Have the questioner add details from the defendant's indictment, such as "Why did you think spraying a capitol police officer with bear spray was okay?" or "Why did you think smashing a window was okay?" or "Why did you think putting your feet on the Speaker's desk was okay?" )

And when they advance the initial reason (such as "the election was stolen" or "because tyranny" or "Q told me to" or whatever dorkshit justification they cite) the followup has to be, "But why is (thing they did) the okay thing to do in that situation? Why THAT thing?"

Ask non-judgmentally, there are no right/wrong answers here. The purpose is to understand the kind of mental processes that allow an individual to engage in these activities, and provide data - lots of data - for researchers, people in the justice system, sentencing judges, potential drafters of regulations/laws, law enforcement analysts, etc.

It would be valuable, if (I imagine) depressing information.

curiously,
Bright

[joetheman]

1. I like your line of questioning. Maybe it would help the stupid MAGAs "think."

I know, I know...

[kentuck]

2. Many of them probably did not have a criminal record?

But they were criminally inclined. They were pulled like a magnet to the crimes of the attempted coup.

Now, they sit in jail, as their Puppet Master sits in Mar-a-Lago.

Many of them probably have no idea they did what they did?

They were over-whelmed with propaganda. And they were criminally inclined.

[Progressive Jones]

3. The biggest problem with these terrorists is their belief that they are "owners"

of "The People's House". That's not how it works. Many of them seem to be caught up in some deluded "Ride of Paul Revere", 1776 fantasy. They worship people from over 200 years ago --who owned humans, and settled scores by duel -- as if they are/were "gods".

The insurrectionists are defective from the start.

[marie999]

4. A defendant is not required to answer any question except maybe "How do you plead?".

[czarjak]

5. God-given rights?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

6. Fortunately in our justice system,

you have the right to refuse to answer questions, along with the right to be a fucking idiotic asshole.

[Midnight Writer]

7. We need a nationally accessible database of insurrectionists for a watch list.

Just like we do with pedophiles.

Their treason should follow them for the rest of their lives.

I wonder what percentage have prior criminal records. I also wonder how many have substance abuse issues. The "Capitol Gang" of Jan 6 looked to me like a drunken mob.

[NQAS]

8. They really thought they were like...

The American revolutionaries in 1773. This was their Boston tea party. Their Lexington and Concord. They liken a political adversary to an oppressive occupier. And I suspect jail time will allow themselves to be called martyrs, and they will become even more emboldened when released from prison.

They’re too brainwashed or too stupid to realize that that this is the case.

So they will question why the oppressor is asking these questions when it’s obvious that they are in fact enemy combatants.