Tis buzz words of the day. The politicians love to use the term almost as a battle cry. To some degree it’s a good thing. Certainly it is bad when people use violence or the threat of violence in the commission of a crime.

Nonetheless, I ask the question, would you rather have ten dollars stolen from you at the point of a weapon or a hundred grand by fraud.

My reply is I’d prefer neither. I suspect most would say about the same. My hope and I suspect your hope is that our government would do what it can to hold down violence, but I would hope they don’t forget those that would take our fortunes, our good names, and our shelters from us by fraud or deceit.

My belief is theft is theft rather it be in a court room or by violence. The penalty should be the same. However, when a person uses a weapon, a few years should be added onto the culprit’s sentence. Nonetheless, those that steal IDs ought not be ignored. After all, they are thieves too. Perhaps, they are worse even than the burglar who steals in the night. For he who uses deception and fraud commit their crimes right out in the daylight. In a sense their crime is not against a person, but society too.

They cause a fear in our normal banking and real estate business. Why should the crook in the thousand dollar suit get any better treatment than the one wearing the clothing from the second hand store.

If you agree with me, maybe you can raise your voice a little to those able to do something about it.