Feinstein’s Bill to Curb Gang Violence
Re “More Punishment: Simple but Senseless,” Commentary, Feb. 24: Father Gregory J. Boyle says he knew simply by looking at the faces of young offenders at a California Youth Authority facility “that there was not one of them who hadn’t been brutalized.” This is a simplistic and senseless approach from one who should know better. President Clinton, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and law enforcement officials have finally gotten the message: We can no longer treat gang members as innocent children who have been victimized by drugs, guns, graffiti and broken homes.
Yes, it’s a complex problem, but surely Father Boyle can come up with something more sensible than diagnosing a serious problem by merely looking at young faces with sympathy. Even vicious dogs have soulful eyes.
MARSHAL A. PHILLIPS
Los Angeles
Thanks to the City Council committees, Father Boyle, Jackie Goldberg and the community workers for pinpointing Feinstein’s ignorance in her approach to counteracting gang violence (Feb. 20). For those of us who are listening to and watching what our youth are experiencing, we know they do need hope and jobs.
Gang workers and Jackie Goldberg, we need your guidance, wisdom and experience. Comprehending this complex problem is vastly important if we are to lead and provide our youth with moral and spiritual stimuli.
RACHEL OTANI
Ventura
Allan Parachini’s logic for opposing civil injunctions as one tool for dealing with gang violence and their other criminal activities is only mildly interesting because it is so predictable (Column Left, Feb. 23). He likened using injunctions to the treatment of “a heart attack with rubbing alcohol.” Well, with Parachini’s logic, we should hold off on CPR while we make sure the person is eating correctly, not smoking and has a good exercise program going. Oops--he died. Too bad, but we have to get at those “critical, broad problems that permeate our society” first, and probably with more money.
Mr. Parachini, I do believe as a community we can walk and chew gum at the same time: If we choose to do it, both cause and result can be addressed. The process is called a balanced, reasoned allocation of resources. Screaming paranoia that someone else’s agenda will get more press space or, God forfend, more money from the public coffers, is a “root cause” of inaction.
JUDITH L. MORGAN
Gardena