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Re: By-By Pumpkin

    Regarding pumpkin snatchers & the like; you will find that most of them are
stupid teenagers (no offense meant to non-stupid Teenagers, but we're obviously
not talking about you anyway; if you didn't steal the pumpkin or pull any other
dumb, selfish, unthinking prank). These kids just plain don't think about the
consequences of their actions. It just looked like a "neat, cool" thing to do.
    The reason this is serious is that it quickly becomes a habit. If no one
takes steps to stop & punish the perpetrators, they think it's all right &
continue to do it, getting away with it every time. Lax parents & other adults
are partially responsible. The attitude "It's just boyish pranks, why get
excited?" is the exact reason that they not only get away with it, but that they
actually think it's all right to do so. The adults are clearly excusing them,
indicating its all part of growing up, so it's acceptable behavior.
    The problem gets worse as the behavior escalates. What happens when the next
unthinking prank does serious property damage, or seriously injures or kills
someone? Everyone who excuses a prank such as this, & allows then to get away
unpunished; contributes to the rest of the saga (the property damage, the injured
or dead) & is & should be held partially responsible.
    The ones who excuse the prank seem to forget that it wasn't just mischief.
Unless I am seriously mistaken, it is still called "theft" in most states, when
you take something that doesn't belong to you. The Kids are no longer
"pranksters", they are "thieves".
    Anyone who lets  kids get away with something like this, is doing them no
favor. If you crack down on them now, & let them know the gravity of what they've
done, perhaps it will straighten them up. If they don't; look at the path their
life is taking.
   TerryLynn Sullivan
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