The news story and your commentary on the Como shootings just begs me to comment.

First, to blame insufficient state and federal dollars which cause the “wrong” felons to be released from prison overlooks one problem.

All of those hang-em-high citizens and judges just love to brag, yell, and scream, “Give ‘em more time…make ‘em pay… make ‘em do the whole sentence.”

What a crock!  

First offenders in Mississippi are sentenced as hardened criminals.   Let ‘em rot in a cell with gang members and I’ll guarantee you that when they get out they have gotten a master’s degree in criminal attitude and skills.

They have no real reason to modify or, at the very least, mollify their behavior. No matter what they do in prison, it isn’t going to help them get out any earlier.

Rehabilitation of criminal inmates in Mississippi has long since given way to retribution and revenge.

I know some folks use the idea that if we make it bad enough then they will make sure they don’t commit any other crime that will get them sent back to prison.  Well, how’s that working out for you?

Gang members do not fear prison. It’s just a rite of passage and a necessary intervention in their day-to-day activities.  Something needs to be done to change the way they think and it isn’t one of those “I’ll-beat-the-hell-out-of- you-so-when-you-get-out-you-will-have-the-fear-of God-in-you.” Kick a dog enough and see if he doesn’t bite you.

Second:  The balance that police officers must have is closely akin to having to walk barefoot across Niagara Falls on the edge of a razor blade. Some police are outright out of control.  Some police think that a badge gives them unfettered power. BUT, I don’t know of any police officer who, when the stuff hits the fan, isn’t there to help fight the criminals.

What’s the point?  Those same folks who sit around condemning the police for their attitude need to remember that every time Grandma yells and screams about those horrible, power-crazy cops hassling her little grandson they are telling the kid that the man behind the badge should not be respected.

Just because he is the law that doesn’t mean that he has any rights trying to break up those little groups of guys hanging on the basketball court. I’ve got two bits that says that if you watch a group of guys on a basketball court that you will soon see them exchange some small “something” as they stand around talking.

Another two bits says that they aren’t paying the other the quarter they won by winning the basketball game.  If you gotta ask what they are passing around then you are as much of the problem as they are.

Maybe, just maybe, the citizen should give the policeman a little respect. Then give him a little more and then a little more. Let the kids know that the face of the law is that cop — the one who lives down the road —  there to protect all of us. Hopefully, that respect for the policeman and for the law would get the message across that The Law is to be honored and that doing things that break the law and endanger other people is not the right way to live.

My final point:  There is going to be a judicial election in a few days. Instead of voting for someone who likes to brag about how many people he, or she, has put in jail as a prosecutor, ask the candidate what they propose to divert first offenders or those charged with non-violent crimes from a trip to the crime campus in Holly Springs, Greenwood, or Parchman.  Everybody talks about how tough a particular judge is because he “sends ‘em all to prison.” Well, those guys have created more criminals than they have saved.

Now, I’m down off my soap box.

/s/ Bobby Blair