looters on tape

[Courtnay Mccullers]

with literally dozens, if not a hundred or more, looters caught on tape now... do you think the city of new orleans or state of louisiana (or whoever) will prosecute these scum of the earth individuals?

i sure hope they do. i hope they all rot.

[Aquawind]

If you can't eat it.. you go to jail..imo. Trying to survive is one thing..All of the food is going to spoil and be a write off anyway..If it's not a survival item take them to jail..Diapers and diamonds are not a survival item..some moms might disagree on the diapers thing..lol

[Lutrastorm]

Last night the head of the Llousiana state police was on television and DID say they would use the videos being broadcast to prosecute looters. A clip of looters cleaning out a WalMart was running while that was being said.

[Persepone]

I do think that if they do NOT make very serious attempts to prosecute the looters, we are all in serious trouble.

It does not matter WHAT they stole--the point is that the vast majority of people in similar situations do NOT loot!

In most parts of the world looters are shot on sight! By the authorities. Looting is a particularly heinous crime--much worse in a sense than ordinary burglary or theft because (if you want to consider a morality of thievery) looters are stealing from those who have already been victimized...

The law enforcement officials who participated in the looting should be prosecuted especially hard--both those who just stood by and those who actually grabbed stuff for themselves--even a bottle of water, etc.

And yes, even the children who looted should be sent to juvenile hall for looting. Unfortunately in this country we have tended to go much too easy on children who disobey the law. No, I don't think they should be put in jail with adult criminals or anything, but I do think the notion of "reform school" is a good one and those children should be sent there if they can be identified from the tapes.

The message that is going out is that New Orleans condones criminal behavior, that the place is full of immoral, predatory, thieves. I have to say that I, as a New Yorker, was in the city for some pretty horrendous stuff (including the big blackouts) and never saw this type of behavior! Frankly, New Yorkers are not as bad as what I'm seeing on TV. I would never consider going there on vacation after what I've seen on TV. And that is a very scary comment. Intellectually I know that is "wrong," but emotionally that's the effect watching the looting has had on me.

[blueeyes_austin]

Looters are in the same category as pirates--"enemies of all mankind"--because both types of criminals perform their crimes outside the protection of civil society.

[CaptinCrunch]

the order should be Shoot to kill, the only good looter is a dead looter!!!!!

[tndefender]

Using the videotapes to identify and prosecute looters is a great idea in theory, but to work it requires the cooperation of the community. In other words, unless the police actually know the person on tape the police will need someone from that community (family, friends, associates) to come forward and identify him or her. I have serious doubts that would happen very much.

[Courtnay Mccullers]

Using the videotapes to identify and prosecute looters is a great idea in theory, but to work it requires the cooperation of the community. In other words, unless the police actually know the person on tape the police will need someone from that community (family, friends, associates) to come forward and identify him or her. I have serious doubts that would happen very much.

you might be surprised. maybe not friends or family members (who were probably fellow looters)... but people tend to know people. like that lady wearing the yellow shirt in wal-mart. maybe her best friend wouldn't give her up... but somebody who watches that video of her raiding wal-mart would find her actions despicable enough to tip off authorities.

[djtil]

not a chance.

[beenthru6]

Rick Levinthal on Fox just walked through the Hard Rock Cafe in Biloxi, and was pointing out all of the memorabilia still there. He pointed out Madonna's top that she wore on one of her tours, a guitar, a bunch of god records. Geez, why doesn't he just hold up a sign saying looters, come and get it?

[Courtnay Mccullers]

Rick Levinthal on Fox just walked through the Hard Rock Cafe in Biloxi, and was pointing out all of the memorabilia still there. He pointed out Madonna's top that she wore on one of her tours, a guitar, a bunch of god records. Geez, why doesn't he just hold up a sign saying looters, come and get it?

looting in mississippi isn't nearly as big of a problem because there is already a real presence down there. it's not like new orleans which is essentially cut off from the rest of the world.

yes, biloxi is probably in as bad or worse shape as new orleans in terms of structural damage... but help is arriving there; until the water is gone, New Orleans will remain a real problem.