Readers say I’m a ‘complete jerk’ for my Snickers column
I asked for feedback last week when I wrote about whether a 70-year-old should be jailed if he is convicted of stealing a Snickers bar.
And I got plenty.
I wrote that I wasn’t shedding tears for the York County man, as this could be his third conviction if he is found guilty. He is charged with third-degree felony retail theft, which carries a penalty of 3½ to seven years in prison.
I said prison time under those circumstances would be appropriate, but that because of his age, house arrest would be better because taxpayers wouldn’t be paying to care for an elderly inmate.
“But what do you think?” I asked. “Am I being insensitive? What should the punishment be for nonviolent offenders who continue to repeat crimes? And should their age matter?”
About three dozen people offered their thoughts, on The Morning Call’s Facebook page and by email. Some were in my corner but by a wide margin, the consensus was yes, I am insensitive, among other things.
You’re a complete jerk
“How cruel can a person be? Where is your castle tower that you stand in and judge the peasants that are in your courtyard? Please write an apology, ask for forgiveness for a hastily written diatribe against the less fortunate.”
“Are you out of your mind? Sevenyear, or any multiyear, prison sentence for stealing a Snickers bar? I don’t condone shoplifting, but where is the proportionality for both the accused and society?”
“There are religious traditions that would chop off his hands. That solves the problem to your way of thinking. Quite a piece to print on Good Friday.”
“The amount in question should determine the severity of the charge and the severity of punishment. This is how it works for the numerous other theft crimes within Pennsylvania but doesn’t apply to a relatively minor retail theft case. Honestly, this gentlemen could have stolen three Snickers bars and be considered a felon; that is insane. The amount stolen or even the collective amount stolen here should dictate the severity of the charge and punishment, not simply he did it more than once.”
“Prison time for petty theft, no matter how many times somebody commits it, is insane.”
“We have to assume that you throw articles like this out there just to troll for information about who reads your column. If not, then in answer to your question about yourself, no you’re not being insensitive, just a complete jerk.”
Lock ’em up
“This is one of the few times I agree with you. You stated it more eloquently and concisely than I could have. What
does it take for someone to learn a lesson? What if the thieves resist and the shop owner is hurt or, worse, killed?”
“No, you are not being insensitive. Your assessment is rational with pertinent ideas for alternative approaches for certain cases. I bet your ideas are popular with jail administrators who know exactly how costly incarceration will be to their budgets where older and sicker inmates are concerned.”
“Lock ‘em up ... Our nation has become too soft on crime. Not only should we punish as appropriate, but we also need to set examples and expectations of behavior.”
“Theft is theft. Simple. You broke the law, you pay the punishment on the books. Simple as that, no exceptions, no matter who you are. Laws exist for a reason.”
Alternate punishment
“I would recommend that a judge uses a more creative sentence — make this [alleged] shoplifter wash the store windows first thing every morning for at least one year, or better yet, have him sentenced to standing outside the store wearing a sign that says ‘I am a shoplifter. My theft causes you to pay higher prices in this store.’ ”
“I think you are justified in not crying for the 70-year-old just as you are justified in pointing out the problems involved in jailing the elderly or sick. Perhaps the judge should have discretion to decide what kind of theft is actually involved (I know theft is theft, but really?) and apply the appropriate penalty. Steal a Snickers? Then I think washing the windows and sweeping the floor of your victim’s store should be about right. Steal 50 pounds of shrimp off a loading dock? Let the DA have fun. So, in summary, your heart might not be in the very best place but your head certainly is.”
“What I would like to see done would be for the city or county to open their own grocery store that could be run by mental health therapists, judges, police officers, family members of the convicted, etc . ... Together, these individuals could be rehabilitated by giving them a job, teaching them skills and giving them a sense of pride and purpose rather than rotting away in prisons. This experience could allow them the opportunity firsthand to see how theft (even singular and minor acts) affects the owner, workers, etc. and help them understand how their choices impact the community.”