This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Should La Mesa Adopt a ZERO Tolerance Crime Law?

How about we make anyone who would commit a crime from vandalism or robbery to sexual assault or murder afraid to step foot in La Mesa?

"Three Strikes and You're OUT!" - this is how it was "pitched" to California voters in 1994 and this state's habitual offender law is still one of the harshest. There are currently 26 states that have adopted a law punishing those who commit 3 felonies with life in prison.

Whether of not you agree with "3 strikes" is not the point of my post. Let's put aside the fact that shoplifting something over $400 in value is considered a felony in this state. *Attention those who shop-lift in La Jolla, we're talking about 1-2 pairs of jeans from some of the stores on Prospect*

This blog post isn't about the legal rights and wrongs of "3 strikes" it's about how La Mesa should be even tougher on those who commit crimes in our city. La Mesa has a problem with crime and no matter how your elected leaders spin the figures to match their political agenda, you and I know that our crime rate isn't going down. According to SANDAG, La Mesa has the 2nd highest crime rate in San Diego County.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This is a sad state of affairs to anyone who lives, works, shops in La Mesa. So I ask myself how we can make the criminal element, whether inside or outside of this this city, go away? Do we need a border fence? Should we have cameras on every street corner? Should we hire 100 more police officers to patrol our streets?

No, because we don't have money or the need to take those extreme measures. How about we make anyone who would commit a crime from vandalism or robbery to sexual assault or murder afraid to step foot in La Mesa. I'd like to see Zero Tolerance to any crime.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I would like to see an instant "strike-out" for anyone who commits a crime against the elderly or children within La Mesa city limits. I don't have space to fill this blog with the demerits of specific crimes, so I will leave it up to you to measure the severity of crimes against children.

I for one, as a father and concerned neighbor, feel any crime against children should be met with extreme prejudice and no mercy. Many people may say doing such things are impossible, so I expect to hear from the ACLU or others who think we need to be nicer to convicted criminals. Here are some other measures we can take.

Let's fine any person guilty of graffiti $1,000 per tagged location and instant membership to the city's Graffiti clean-up squad. If you think that is too harsh - see the following countries' laws pertaining to graffiti. Singapore and UK.

Australia and New Zealand have also adopted laws that exhibit zero tolerance. Some say that zero tolerance does not allow for "make the punishment fit the crime". Or that such a policy may hinder community policing. I believe that community watches can only do so much - but the appearance of zero tolerance will make some criminals think twice before committing crimes in our city.

I for one am sick and tired of seeing graffiti, reading the non-stop police blotter and having to set my alarm every night. I have complete faith in Chief Lanning and the men & women of the La Mesa PD.

I know they are doing everything within their power to reduce our crime rate and keep the city safe. I can only dream of a time everyone, especially our elderly population, feels safe to take a walk, day or night, inside the borders of the 9.3 square miles we are all so proud to call home.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?