LOS ANGELES HAS MORE CRIMINALS than it can afford. So county officials are forced to release too many jail inmates too early, putting thousands of convicted criminals on the street — with predictably tragic consequences not only for their victims but for public trust in government...The answer, of course, is to give up those nasty, dangerous guns and rely on the government to protect us. No?
The Times reported last week that seven men have committed murders when they should have been serving out their sentences for other crimes. Nine more are awaiting trial for homicide. Of the nearly 16,000 other criminals rearrested while their earlier sentences were still in force, 518 were charged with robbery, 641 with weapons violations and 1,443 with assault.
It still sometimes amazes me that this is even a debate.