Mercy, justice overdue in Michael Behenna case

That soldier was sentenced to seven years.

We're reminded of a different case. During the Vietnam War, Army Lt. William Calley was prosecuted for what came to be known as the My Lai Massacre. Hundreds of men, women and children were killed by U.S. troops. He was convicted of the premeditated murder of 22 civilians and given a life sentence. That was quickly reduced to 20 years, and the secretary of the Army eventually cut it to 10. Calley wound up serving just 3 ½ years of house arrest.

Behenna has now spent the past four years of his life in the brig. If the point of his sentence was to send Behenna a message, we'd suggest it's been received. It's time that mercy and justice enter the equation.