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To: pgyanke
There is less of nearly every type of crime... when is it prosecuted. Therefore, you get to keep the crime you accept.

But you agree that it is impossible to prosecute every single crime, right? If that's the case, then the prosecution has to use discretion in choosing which crimes to go after. I think he made a lousy choice here.
109 posted on 07/14/2004 8:51:57 AM PDT by Stone Mountain
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To: Stone Mountain
But you agree that it is impossible to prosecute every single crime, right?

I do. That's why some people are examples to the rest. You have to consider why a crime is prosecuted and why each act is a crime. Jaywalking isn't a crime because the government wants to control where you walk. It's a crime because if you cross the street improperly at the wrong time it could be dangerous for you and for traffic. A cop may look the other way if he sees you jaywalking on an open street. He won't if you cause traffic problems. Word gets around quickly that certain cities are more jaywalking intolerant than others. For example, New York and Chicago have that reputation. More people use the sidewalks and crosswalks in these cities than in a beach city where idiotic tourists are accepted.

You probably won't get a ticket for going 5 mph above the speed limit but you surely will if clocked going 25 above. What's the difference? The fact that traffic can't react to you as quickly nor you to it with a significant speed differential makes an inherently dangerous situation. Roads and communities get reputations for "speed traps" or "strict enforcement" and speeding occurrances go down in these areas.

Back to the current example. Public nudity is a disruption of the peace and an intrusion on public values. Prosecuting her will ensure there will be far fewer prosecutions in the future. Those wanting to "flaunt it" will pick another jurisdiction. Example... the morally degenerate congregate where they are accepted (San Fran, Disney Gay Days). You don't see them on the street corner in Omaha, Nebraska. Why? They aren't tolerated. How would you put a stop to Gay Days? Start prosecuting for public lewdness... word will spread and incidents will go down without having to "prosecute every single crime."

Law enforcement is the same as nuclear deterrance. You get results through a combination of ability and will. If a cop has a law on the books giving him the ability to prosecute but doesn't enforce it, the law may as well not exist. One without the other doesn't deter anyone.

Once again, you get the crime you accept. This prosecuter did the right thing and the Freepers on this thread who called him names for doing his job acted reprehensibly.

114 posted on 07/14/2004 9:17:50 AM PDT by pgyanke (Christianity, if false, is unimportant and, if true, of infinite importance. - C.S. Lewis)
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