Re: Map thief Gilbert Bland

[cjscheiner@MEM.po.com]

They used to cut off the hands of thieves because the criminal justice
system knew that jail did not rehabilitate thieves. We don't do that
any more, we just incarcerate thieves to postpone the time of their
next "misadventure".
When you steal from a book/mapseller or a private collector, you steal
private property, and should be required to make civil financial
restitution in addition to incurring criminal punishment. When you
steal from a Library you steal from the entire Society and its Culture.
I personally see that in the same light as sedition and treason and
anarchy, and would not be upset to see the same punishment applied.
However, I am old fashioned (I still read books instead of watching the
Hollywood remake).  If Libraries could spend on book acquisitions that
part of their budgets now allocated to security measures, we would all
be richer for it. 

C.J. Scheiner, M.D., Ph.D., 275 Linden Blvd, B2, Bklyn, NY 11226 
cjscheiner@mem.po.com;(Ph & Fx: 718-469-1089)