Las
Vegas mayor: Cut off thumbs of graffiti artists
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nov. 3, 2005
RENO, Nev. (AP) -
Las
Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has suggested that
those who deface freeways with graffiti should have their thumbs cut
off on television.
Goodman, appearing
Wednesday on the "Nevada Newsmakers" television
show, said, "In the old days in France, they had beheading of people
who commit heinous crimes.
"You know, we have a
beautiful highway landscaping redevelopment in our
downtown. We have desert tortoises and beautiful paintings of flora and
fauna. These punks come along and deface it.
"I'm saying maybe you
put them on TV and cut off a thumb," the mayor added. "That may be the
right thing to do."
Goodman also suggested
that whippings or canings should be brought back for children who get
into trouble.
"I also believe in a
little bit of corporal punishment going back to
the days of yore, where examples have to be shown," Goodman said.
"I'm dead serious," said
Goodman, adding, "Some of these (children)
don't learn. You have got to teach them a lesson, and this is coming
from a criminal defense lawyer."
"They would get a trial
first," he added.
Another panelist on the
show, Howard Rosenberg, a state university
system regent, responded by saying that cutting off the thumbs of
taggers won't solve the problem and Goodman should "use his head for
something other than a hat rack." |