sign thefts increase

There was an unexpected and surprising, yet welcomed, editorial in the Gazette this week regarding the theft of political yard signs. Paul Dotson also put a letter in with regards to that topic too. There is no doubt that whoever is doing it is trespassing on private property and taking property that does NOT belong to them. There were similar incidents during the national election and, to their credit, they were duly noted in the Gazette, although they did not take a stand at that time. It seems that now they have realized the thefts as what it is- a threat to our first amendment rights of freedom of political expression. The Gazette offered to publish the name and picture of anybody caught stealing political signs, as a deterrent to those who participate in this illegal activity. It is a much-needed stand and is to their credit. I have not always agreed with their editorials in the past, but in this case I believe they have nailed it. Our little city has had a sordid history of political sign stealing in the past that, at times, even included city officials in those illegal activities, and that needs to stop. We cannot sit idly by while some shady characters try to stifle dissent and our freedom of expression. It may seem like a small thing and, in the grand scale of all things important, maybe it is, but this is not a communist country where freedoms are routinely squelched and subverted. This is America - home of the free. This blog is an expression of that freedom and an exercise in democracy. Lets not allow one of our most basic freedoms to be taken away by some shady characters who want to influence the upcoming election by taking opponents yard signs. The underhanded, sneaky, and illegal nature of that activity speaks volumes about the character, or lack of same, of those involved. Are these the types of people we want to elect? You decide. Dr. Mel P. Johnson