tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post581587371444925085..comments2023-10-25T09:49:43.089+01:00Comments on BEN'S PRISON BLOG - Lifer On The Loose: Locked in a Struggleprisonerbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923205052778958118noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-66119160650621494132013-03-21T16:00:27.785+00:002013-03-21T16:00:27.785+00:00With the greatest of respect and the gentlest of i...With the greatest of respect and the gentlest of intentions, what I could, would or ever may say to my victim's family is between them and myself. It is not for public consumption.<br /><br />In no way shape or form have I ever defended or attempted to minimise my crime. Which I why I handed myself in to the police and pleaded guilty to murder.<br /><br />I have never discussed the physical details of my crime for one simple reason - my victims family would hardly enjoy having the details thrown in their face. I don't deny anything you say - murder is brutal - but I will never publicly discuss it out of respect for his family. I ask you to give that some consideration.<br /><br />As a matter of plain fact, my crime was not the result of a "savage rage attack". You are just wrong.<br /><br />And, without sounding trite, plastering myself all over the web is hardly "covering my tracks".<br /><br />And I have never, ever, asked for sympathy.<br />prisonerbenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923205052778958118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-4259489222717980962013-03-21T09:29:42.861+00:002013-03-21T09:29:42.861+00:00Does John 'Ben' Gunn have any words for th...Does John 'Ben' Gunn have any words for the family of the 11 year-old boy he savagely beat to death with a table leg? So far, we have heard none. To recap. Gunn, then 14, armed with a wooden table leg, attacked the child, smashing his skull in many places. The child's arms were covered with defensive bruising. Gunn has claimed it was a 'fight' - well, he would do. A 14 year-old 'fighting' an 11 year-old sounds reasonable. In reality this was a savage rage attack in which a child lost his life. This case is well documented. The self-styled (and egocentric) 'Lifer on the Loose' has his life. As with most child-killers he has covered his tracks well. But sympathy? Sympathy should go to the little boy he killed and that boy's family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-65395829086945445332009-10-09T13:12:26.570+01:002009-10-09T13:12:26.570+01:00Out beyond ideas
of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
th...Out beyond ideas <br />of wrongdoing and rightdoing,<br />there is a field.<br /><br />I'll meet you there.<br /><br />- RumiNikoshttp://www.dgr.grnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-54982695208878131852009-10-09T08:47:36.050+01:002009-10-09T08:47:36.050+01:00Hi Ben. I admire your strengh and I wish you the b...Hi Ben. I admire your strengh and I wish you the best. I will post an article about you at my english blog very soon.<br /><br />Nice to meet you hereMatrigahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12203540991280194972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-3595387826094115702009-10-09T03:39:10.449+01:002009-10-09T03:39:10.449+01:00Ben, I have been engrossed by your blog and read i...Ben, I have been engrossed by your blog and read it all! I am sickened by the way the authorities have treated you, and you have my respect for sticking to your position and achieving change even while you're inside. Tomorrow I'll write to my MP and demand they pay attention. Is there anything else I can do?<br /><br />I can't start to imagine what it is like to spend your entire youth inside, but I guess that you cannot accurately envision adult life on the outside (especially if TV is your window on the world). I suspect it is better to stand strong and be freed with self-respect than to genuflect to cruel authorities and sacrifice your dignity for the sake of freedom. But this is easy for me to say from out here, so how have you remained so resolute in your struggle all these years?<br /><br />When you are released (hopefully soon), do you think you can be unwavering and confront every misuse of power in wider society?Maxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-2561080355749071262009-10-08T22:37:05.198+01:002009-10-08T22:37:05.198+01:00No doubt power brinkmanship plays a part in Ben...No doubt power brinkmanship plays a part in Ben's case, but there is a valid human dimension in that when he is released a probation officer will have to hold his life licence - this means another fallible human taking responsibility for him in the community.<br /><br />At first it is like being allowed freedom on the end of a short piece of string by which he may be suddenly pulled up short or possibly recalled to prison for an indefinite period. Gradually, if he doesn't frighten his supervising officer, probation control may be relaxed.<br /><br />How does Ben's probation officer feel about the case? Is he/she for Ben's release, or does he/she feel anxious that with his record of independence he will prove impossible to manage?<br /><br />It is said that no male lifer will be willingly released by the Parole Board and the Minister until he has left his manhood behind in a locked and numbered safe. I think there is some truth in this. It is Ben's decision which path he will take from here.<br /><br />On a lighter note, by the way, it may be just as well there is no photograph of Ben. After reading his recent blogs I ask: would he be wearing his clothes, and on which page of the Guardian would his picture appear?YagiBirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06779431797609509966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-4823483880160799272009-10-08T22:28:09.522+01:002009-10-08T22:28:09.522+01:00I've written to my MP (Robert Walters) in the ...I've written to my MP (Robert Walters) in the hope that something can be done.<br /><br />Of course, my action by itself is likely to achieve nothing, but if more people wrote to their MP, something might be done.<br /><br />Go to: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ put in your post code.<br /><br />If you want, here is the letter that I sent, simply cut and paste and send (adding your MP's name and your name)<br /><br />-------------------------------------<br /><br />Dear Your MP's Name,<br /><br />I am writing to ask for your assistance in the case of a Mr John "Ben" Gunn who is currently still in prison having served 30 years for a "murder" he committed at the age of 14.<br /><br />The facts of the case as reported in the Guardian on 7th October 2009 seem to suggest that John's crime whilst terrible was as much an accident as it was murder; John having killed his friend in a fight.<br /><br />John admitted his guilt at the time and has been remorseful in prison, devoting himself to study and helping other prisoners.<br /><br />John Gunn is the General Secretary of the Association of Prisoners which I imagine has not won him any friends amongst the prisons senior management and may explain his very long stay in prison.<br /><br />The world is full of injustice and we cannot hope to fix it all, but it in this case the government has a chance to show compassion, mercy and justice to John Gunn.<br /><br />With government plans to release selected prisoners early to save on overcrowding, could John Gunn's name be added to list ?<br /><br />I don't know John or his family but I think it would be a good thing if he were released. If you could help, that would be very much appreciated.<br /><br />Yours sincerely,<br /><br />Your nameUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462186065164046198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-23143485552614719692009-10-08T21:39:40.254+01:002009-10-08T21:39:40.254+01:00apparently the government are going to be releasin...apparently the government are going to be releasing a whole load of prisoners early to save money.<br /><br />Ben's name should be on the list. Seems like he's more than paid for his crime and is no threat to society.<br /><br />Why is he still in prison ???Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462186065164046198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-58440197528169621362009-10-08T21:37:09.955+01:002009-10-08T21:37:09.955+01:00On reading the article I am in disbelief that publ...On reading the article I am in disbelief that public servants in positions of such authority and power over inmates can behave in such controlling-bullying ways. I pay taxes for a humane justice system not this which by the Guardian's description resembles the kind of processes found under authoritarian regimes. Your behaviour sounds like that of someone who is reformed into a person who is responsible de-institutionalised and free-thinking. Maybe you have reformed too far and as you say become too non-conformist for people in positions of authority to be able to recognise that you are of sound mind and good character. Authority and non-conformity are mutually incompatible.<br /><br />Read Derrick Jensen's 'a language older than words' on power, authority, abuse, as fundamentals of patriarchal society, and Bob Altemeyer's work on the authoritarian personality for more insights. Alastair usofc.wordpress.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-86306450970898389582009-10-08T12:49:07.044+01:002009-10-08T12:49:07.044+01:00You are so inspiring Ben.
So inspiring indeed. T...You are so inspiring Ben. <br /><br />So inspiring indeed. Thank you.<br /><br />I am writing from Cyprus and I just became a “Follower” of your blog. <br /><br />I believe that soon more Followers will appear from Greece and Cyprus. You already know it, but I need to say it : <br /><br /><b>You are not alone. </b>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03159917614393686226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-26353855442324113832009-10-08T12:37:00.697+01:002009-10-08T12:37:00.697+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03159917614393686226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-20974377053894472332009-10-08T02:21:09.693+01:002009-10-08T02:21:09.693+01:00God bless you Ben! God grant you grace and peace, ...God bless you Ben! God grant you grace and peace, strength and consolation. Thanks so much for your faithfulness.Alice Y.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16267449289432878102noreply@blogger.com