Letter to the Editor: Shame may help keep youth in line

 Oh, but I must show the other side of the coin posed by Chris Smith, “Kids in trouble,” Thursday, June 11, 2009. Until about three years ago, I might be inclined to agree with keeping pictures of kids in trouble out of the paper. However, the population of Hannibal has exploded with criminal activities, and the public should not be kept in the dark as to the perpetrators.
Keeping the criminal activities of the young OR older citizen quiet is the main reason for the explosion of drugs, underage drinking, assault, stealing and murder. Just to prove my point, as I write this letter, the front page of the Courier-Post (Sept. 12) sets on the table in my face, giving details of a brutal, senseless murder that took place in the dark of the night, Aug. 10, 2008, on the public streets of Hannibal. Need I give more examples? The police force seems to be meeting themselves coming and going trying to manage some sense of safety to the everyday working person. In my opinion, if most of those young folks referred to, would get a job, they wouldn’t have the time or energy to get into so much trouble, then their picture would not be in the paper. Relatives, friends and teachers should subject their influence onto their loved ones to stay out of trouble. If a picture in the paper a couple of times keeps them on the straight and narrow in the future, more power to them.

Joan M. Thompson
Hannibal