MSGID: 1:153/757.0 51c9bc21
REPLY: 1:153/757.21@fidonet 0609e170
TZUTC: -0700
CHRS: LATIN-1 2
>> Now, though, if the proprietor even squeezes a tiny bit
>> too hard in grabbing  the kid, he's liable to be arrested!
> The best I could do is get passed the suspect and lock the door
> until the police arrive.

Yeah, that's effective -- in the US, at least in Washington state, they have
a  law against "concealment for the purpose.." meaning they don't need for
the  perp to exit the store to have committed the crime (as in BC); sticking
the  item up under the coat counts as an arrestable(including citizen's) event

Can you not perform a citizen's arrest of the shoplifter? But beware of punks 
like I was, who amused myself on rare occasion by seeming to conceal an item 
for the purpose of stealing it, but either I didn't or I found a way to ditch 
it before I exited the store, & got the hand on the shoulder by security.

I could put on a real show of righteous indignation for those around me -- my 
only public acting experience.

I think I only started because I was annoyed by a guard following me like I
was a shoplifter, when I had no intention of doing so. . . I figured I'd teach
a  lesson in assumption; I had so much fun performing I repeated on occasion 
throughout town.

> My dad reached a breaking point when I admitted that I lied to
> prevent my brother from a prolonged lashing.  I ended up with
> significant cuts to my back that took weeks to heal. I think I
> was just 8yrs old at the time. Future beatings stopped after
> the results of my beatings leaked to the public one way or
> another.

Somehow, eh?

The rule used to be, for many, "What happens in the family home STAYS in the 
family home." which is perfectly fair until a line gets crossed & everybody 
knows what/where those lines are.

I had my share of welts, but always only on my buttocks, unlike my parents' 
generation, who would get them across legs & back, as well.  My dad explained 
that God put the extra cushioning on the rear end to facilitate loving 
discipline, without damaging the children.

There's far too many horror stories out there! The community needs to step up 
and administer the needed belated discipline to certain people.

How many of us would much pity the doing to a dog abuser the same misdeeds
the  dog received? One dog here in my town was found buried alive, after
being  beaten so badly, the face was torn, dog was half-blinded, & ribs were
broken. . People like this are dangerous to the general public - this is how
serial  killers begin -- torturing/killing animals, before working their way
up to  children & women. Not too many work up to actual men of equivalent 
size.strength. (a pity)

I don't want violent sociopaths in my city, when they can be identified as 
such.

Prison &/or a work-camp in the Northwest Territories or anywhere else decent 
folk have no interest in working, until they've breathed their last breath.

So tired of news stories like the time a car thief in Vancouver was released
on a few weekends of using the ankle bracelet for house arrest after stealing
his  2,000th car. My first thought was I wanted to check that judge's 
banking/spending history for the past few months.

I'd've said, "Clearly you're not going to stop doing this crime with normal 
sentences of 6-18 months in provincial prisons, learning new tricks of your 
trade, so it's time to up the ante, & see if that'll make you reconsider your 
chosen vocation."

Lots of options out there:
Labour to repay our provincial insurer the money lost in paying off the
claims  for 2K stolen cars comes to mind.

Let him walk around with his community with a sandwich board for the time 
normally given as jail time to a car thief, that says, "Beware; all I do is 
steal cars.  Your car is not safe when I'm around."

Some public shunning might help prevent a host of criminals from getting 
started.

If you can't explain how you have income to live on satisfactorily, people 
should look elsewhere for backyard barbecue guests. . . Most acceptable being
a J.O.B, of course; also acceptable
-receiving a pension
-having money in the bank &/or annuities/dividends.
-receiving assistance funding temporarily while actively & honestly seeking new
employment when unexpectedly laid off.

I have far more respect for the 60-year-old alcoholic panhandling outside the 
liquor store, who greets people in a friendly manner & opens the door for
those who are much-laden, than these 20-year-old panhandlers who sprawl on
their  backs across an entire sidewalk & DEMAND you "gimme some money."

I get to know the homeless people in my community, & learn their stories;
most  have a reasonable reason for being on the streets; it's extremely rare
to meet  someone there by choice who isn't actively working to improve
his/her  circumstances.

> So you think public shaming is a good deterrent?

Yup; we humans are a herd animal -- it hurts to be excluded from our fellowman.

Currently, a guy chuckles how he "keeps the little lady in line with a few 
belts in the mouth" &the guys with him chuckle & agree he is doing right.  
Better if they stopped trying to "bro out" with a meatball, & just punch him 
right in the throat, & drop him from their circle.

>> Make it a feel good choice to cooperate with one's
>> community's police instead  of a "look at me" infamy as
>> they currently report it. . .
> I think the community of businesses (especially in a small
> town) spread the word on a suspect to watch out for.

I know you're fully right there, & this helps, but as you note, mainly in
small towns/communities. . .

I'd like to see it go further & have businesses post the photos of those who 
have stolen or otherwise behaved improperly, in every window, in a section by 
the door, "These people are banned from this store for the crime noted under 
their photos." & as the rest of the public realize this is done to prevent 
unfairly penalizing all with price increases to cover for thefts & insurance, 
it'll be well praised & catch on elsewhere. . .

Only my opinion/thoughts, but I might be right. . . or I could be wrong. . .
Not for me to say--but for the greater communities' standards to prevail.

Be well! Hope you're also starting to see lighter temperatures & weather as
we  phase into summer


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