RIGHTS DON'T COME WITHOUT CORRESPONDING RESPONSIBILITIES

To the editor:

Re: Unfettered public powers don't jibe with Charter rights, Jeff
Mitchell column, May 25.

I see two problems with the above column.

There is absolutely no freedom of any kind that does not come with
associated responsibility. We are very adamant about the freedom part,
but superlatively negligent with the responsibility part. When one
shirks his/her responsibility, all of society is affected to some
degree. By the time the crime comes full circle with its social and
economic impact on us, it will make the concern over intrusion look
minute, even petty. If the police want to sniff/search/watch/ me, please do.

I see a problem with the criminal going free in this case. The rules
of the game are infinitely more important than the truth. I don't
believe there is even one person in the legal community who
comprehends how detrimental this is to social stability. It has the
result of inspiring the criminal to carry on and possibly worse, it
drives the victim in some cases to think "vigilantism." The bottom
line is this: The criminal is the cause of any intrusion and if you
have a better, more effective way to deal with the crime, let's hear
it.

BILL DOWNS

Tyrone