Acquittal of Subway Shooter

Now that the Goetz trial is over the avalanche of post-mortems will roll in. I just don’t think I can stand to hear about the constitutional issues any more. I don’t believe we Americans advocate a vigilantism, but we’re sure glad that Americans like Goetz have made a statement on crime: enough is enough.

Those people that he shot were not exactly upstanding citizens who do volunteer work at the rest home. These guys are thugs and potential residents of San Quentin.

Oh yes, there will be the usual diatribes from the constitutional scholars about the violation of their rights. But you know what? Crime in this country is epidemic and grossly out of hand. We have become the most dangerous country in the world! Americans are no longer safe in their homes or on the streets. There are many fine old neighborhoods--were it not for the violence and drug pushing that goes on--that would be wonderful places to live and would solve many of our housing problems.

I don’t believe that the Goetz case was a vote for vigilantism. It was a vote for a return to sanity, and a vote that says Americans are tired of being terrified in their homes and on the streets after dark and even in the daytime. They are tired of the rapes and muggings. And so am I.

I remember a time when the cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles were busy cities where you could go to the neighborhood delis and not worry about whether you would be there when a robbery would take place. You could sit outside in the day and evenings. When the weather got hot and muggy you could leave the doors and windows open! No more. Why? Because of the kind of people that Goetz took action against.

RICHARD STALLINGS

El Segundo