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   
      
      
   --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6   
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)   
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