Letter: Put offenders to work — with their thumbs

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005 | 11:39 a.m.

Who among us has not been vexed and offended by the outrageous despoiling of our environment by the misguided, despicable, miscreant "taggers?" It appears that nothing is beyond their desecration.

Now, I'm not a violent man, however, often in anger, I've railed against the taggers by telling friends that there should be a bounty on them, that the offending digits on the tagging finger should be removed.

I can certainly understand how our fine mayor, Oscar Goodman, felt when he delivered the now infamous "off with their thumbs" invective. However, isn't it time that the present administration get serious about combating these vermin? Let's catch and punish these punks.

OK, so we can't maim them. Can't we sentence them to a year of public service by using their weekends painting over graffiti? In addition to this, second offenders would get jail time.

Also, what's wrong with forcing state, county and city contractors to provide a formula for the reproduction of the exact color and hue of paint used on any public project, so that it can be used in the eventual over-painting of graffiti?

Come on, mayor, apprehend and make an example of these idiots by putting them to work. They'd do more and better cleaning up with their thumbs still attached!

Billy E. Bowles

Henderson