Editorial: The threat of harsh punishment for a transgression usually decreases one' s tendency to feel guilt or shame for committing that transgression, and the tendency to feel guilt or shame for committing a transgression reduces a person' s tendency to commit transgressions. Thus, increasing the severity of the legal penalties for transgressions may amplify people' s tendency to ignore the welfare of others.
At least some actions that involve ignoring the welfare of others are transgressions is an assumption required by the editorial's argument.