LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Sign thieves face civil rights charge


October 30, 2012 · Updated 1:55 PM 

To the editor:

Although political campaign signs may be abhorrent to some, they represent the right of the poster to express his/her political beliefs. This is called freedom of speech; it is a right afforded to every citizen and zealously protected under the First Amendment. It is the very cornerstone of our democratic republic because without that protection, all other civil rights disappear.

Someone stole a Republican campaign sign from my private property. No signs for the opposite political party were stolen from my next door neighbor’s driveway, so my conclusion is that my sign was stolen by a Democrat. Why would a Republican steal a sign supporting his/her political beliefs?

So here’s the message to the thief: in stealing that sign, you not only committed the crimes of theft and trespassing, but also the much more serious crime of denying me my civil rights. That is a federal rap and a felony. So think twice before you decide to steal another sign because I guarantee you if you steal another sign from my property and I find out who you are, I will file a civil rights violation complaint with the U.S. Attorney. You may not get any jail time but you will be obliged to hire an attorney to defend yourself against a well-funded and unsympathetic government.

Is it worth it?

Richard Porter

Langley

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