Bill to Paddle Graffiti Vandals

The Times has it backwards when it comes to my bill that would allow the paddling of convicted graffiti vandals (editorial, Jan. 11). Paddling won’t “confuse” vandals about the role of violence in society. It’s the current system that confuses these young criminals.

Decades of failed liberal social experiments have created a justice system that allows young criminals to escape any sort of meaningful punishment. Often beginning as graffiti vandals, these youngsters slip through the system without realizing that actions have meaningful consequences. And when they finally do face punishment it is often for violent crimes--robbery, rape, carjackings, drive-by shootings. The possibility of a few strokes of a paddle at an early age might have turned these youngsters from a life of crime.

In a city where toddlers are killed in drive-by shootings and innocent people of all ages live in fear of murderous predators, it is absurd to describe, as you do in your editorial, a few strokes of a paddle as violence.

I’d like to believe that graffiti cleanup programs are an effective deterrent, but they aren’t. In fact, in Los Angeles County, at least 40% of graffiti vandals never show up for these projects. And, as we all know, the freshly painted walls are often quickly covered with new graffiti.

Other forms of punishment have failed. Let’s give this legislation a chance. It doesn’t mandate paddling. It simply gives judges another tool to use.

MICKEY CONROY

Assembly, R-Orange

* Conroy’s paddling bill is a frightening intrusion into family values and a catalyst for child abuse.

Parents who understand the psychological harm of corporal punishment would never hit their children or allow anyone else to do so. Government-sanctioned paddling sends a message that it is permissible to beat your child (or wife), and teaches children that it’s OK to beat up on people. This barbaric measure should be soundly defeated by our more enlightened legislators.

RUTH D. SHAPIN

Orange