When tagging turns lethal

Re “A life lost to graffiti,” Aug. 16

Where is the disgust, anger and outrage about the vicious coldblooded killing of Maria Hicks? Residents of Pico Rivera need to be less passive and more involved than ever with the bad seeds in their neighborhood. It needs what all cities need to be safe -- aggressive community activists who are willing to be as no-nonsense as Hicks. If we had more citizens like her, taggers wouldn’t have the guts to spit on the sidewalk, much less shoot an unsuspecting, defenseless grandmother trying to do something positive for her community. Time to invest more in being responsible, proactive citizens and less on graffiti removal, candlelight vigils and hiring grief counselors.

Ara Corbett

Glendale

It looks like taggers do more than deface and damage property; they apparently also kill innocent people.

Steve Rodriguez

Whittier

Two taggers in custody in this killing are adults and have had their identity disclosed. A third, a minor, is being protected by law from being identified. I deal with minors every day, so I feel qualified to suggest: Publicly identify any minor accused of a felony. The minors in my class brag about their crimes and about the fact that they can have their arrest records expunged. These minors don’t learn responsibility and discipline from our legal system, and they certainly don’t learn it at home or school. Maybe if their crimes were exposed publicly and erasure were made impossible, they would learn that there is a price to pay, and that price is their future.

Howard Hale

Lancaster