I'm okay with violent felons owning guns after they serve their sentence...

[gejohnston]

8. cum hoc ergo propter hoc

What evidence that one has anything to do with the other? Do you have any evidence that the lack of recidivism has anything to do with their system? Their crime was just as low, if not lower, when their prisons were complete shit holes.

Our system is more classist and sexist, in favor of women, than racist. For example, while a black male will get a stiffer sentence than a white male, the white guy will still get a stiffer sentence than a black female.

If you'd like to see a system that works check out Scandinavia - which has the lowest recidivism rates in the world. Also check out places with lower crime rates and see how they accomplish that; it's not through threats of harsher punishment.

Actually, Sweden is the rape capital of the world. Either way, it has nothing to do with their prison system. While there is a valid argument that rehabilitation is better than warehousing, and I agree with that, but some people are just fucking evil. Then again, a lot of people are in for shit that shouldn't be crimes to begin with. Then again, there are people who should never see outside of razor wire again.

In fact the US has some of the most harsh punishment of any 1st world country and some of the worst crime rates

First, second, and third world is an outdated and meaningless distinction. If you think our prisons suck, check out Japanese and South Korean prisons.