Higher taxes, more cops, more crime

To the editor:

FBI statistics show violent crime jumped more than 32 percent last year in Las Vegas (Sept. 25 Review-Journal). Other statistics show more than 70,000 criminal offenses in the Las Vegas area annually, thousands of methamphetamine-fueled offenses and 274 gang-related shootings.

What happened to the additional sales tax increase we gave the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department? In the fall of 2004, Sheriff Bill Young pleaded with us to vote for a higher local sales tax, which would be earmarked to increase the number of officers per thousand residents from 1.69 to 2.00, so his force could do more proactive “neighborhood patrolling,” looking for more crimes.

I was reluctant to vote for the tax increase but, after listening to Sheriff Young and speaking with some Metro officers, I, along with thousands of other Clark County voters, went along.

From 2000 to 2006, Clark County’s population increased approximately 34 percent (nearly 500,000 new residents). For the same period, total Metro revenues increased 62 percent, and officer salaries and benefits increased 63 percent. However, officers per 1,000 increased only from 1.82 to 1.86. (Source: Metro’s annual report.)

See any additional officers in your neighborhood this last year? Has crime increased rather than decreased?

I am always skeptical of tax increases of any kind because all too often, the additional tax doesn’t do what is promised — and it sure looks like Clark County residents got duped on this one.

I suppose now Henderson police will complain that they don’t make as much as Metro police.

NATE HANSEN

HENDERSON

Law book

To the editor:

In response to your Friday story on the new state laws that took effect Monday:

I think that these new laws which protect the public from sex offenders are long overdue. A person with fetishes, such as pedophilia, cannot be “cured.” You cannot change what arouses you sexually. Therefore, if we are going to continue to release sex offenders back into society, there should be a plethora of extremely strict laws that will help to keep them from becoming repeat offenders.

If this means making their identity public and keeping them away from any area which may attract many children, then so it be.

BRENDA SALATHE

LAS VEGAS

Crime wave

To the editor:

The town of Pahrump is getting a lot of bad publicity, all because of a child molester. The criminal who did this terrible act and then videotaped it is obviously a sick person. Most pedophiles are repeat offenders and are potentially dangerous when put back into society, and statistics will show this to be a fact.

Our lawmakers and judges seem to think that people who commit these crimes can be rehabilitated and can be safely put back into society — but time and time again they are proved wrong. Pedophiles are receiving the wrong medical treatment while they are in prison. Instead of talking to a psychologist to find out why they commit these horrendous acts, they should be with a doctor who will castrate them, and this will make sure they never have the desire to commit these criminal acts again.

Our legal system lacks justice and common sense because we have too many criminals who have no fear of punishments handed down by the courts. I wonder how many criminals would be repeat offenders if the citizens who were the victims of various crimes handed out the punishment.

And criminals who commit capital crimes are dangerous and cost the taxpayer a lot of money. Even though I am an animal lover, if I get attacked by a mad dog, I don’t try to catch it and rehabilitate it. I kill it.

LOUIS J. DeCANIO

PAHRUMP

Voting rights

To the editor:

I was amazed to read in Steve M. Watkins’ Saturday letter that the right to vote is written in the Constitution.

Let’s clear this up for your readers. The right to vote is not written in the Constitution. I have several copies and have read them many times and can assure you that your right to vote is not there. Read it for yourself.

Darrell Sikes

LAS VEGAS

Missing out

To the editor:

In your Tuesday article, “Meth Project,” you report that a 2006 survey showed Nevada led the nation in meth use. Your article also stated that the White House targeted numerous states to recieve funding to show the Meth Project ads, which has shown reduced meth use in the state of its origination, Montana.

Nevada was not one of the states selected for the project.

Am I missing something here? How could Nevada not be included in the program?

DENNIS LAROUNIS

PIOCHE