Inviting hostility toward molesters

Re “On his block, a molester,” Column One, Dec. 5

Peter Y. Hong goes out of his way to pinpoint the location of the sex offender, openly inviting (inciting?) broader hostility toward the man. Excuse me, but this seems to be a crudely veiled use of the power of the press in the cause of vigilantism and should not be tolerated. It’s likely that people from other neighborhoods will join the campaign against Michael Miletti.

It’s certain that the man will lose some customers and might be financially ruined as a result of this exposure. I don’t much like child abusers, but I also dislike neighborhood bullies who aren’t satisfied with what the law meted out in punishment and want to chase off to someone else’s neighborhood offenders who have done their time. Regardless of how one feels about child molesters, The Times was wrong to add fuel to a volatile situation.

GILBERT HOXIE

Palos Verdes Estates

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I am shocked and dismayed that you would print this article in Column One. Is it responsible journalism to fuel an already hysterical public? You are aiding and abetting a situation that has gotten out of your control.

The Times has printed enough articles explaining the pitfalls of such laws as Proposition 83, and now it violates the privacy of a man who was a molester and is trying to rebuild his life. You have exposed a cruel idea to your circulation of millions of people who can potentially harass and violate the constitutional rights of anyone listed on the Megan’s Law website.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights were not written so we could pick and choose who we will and will not protect. This type of behavior is harassment, and the action taken by neighbors to run this man out of their area is plain wrong.

NANCY SCHWARTZ

Valencia