Teen steals 71 Bush-Cheney signs after brother is sent to Iraq

[matcom]

<snip>

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Police said a Nashville teenager and his friends stole 71 Bush-Cheney yard signs because he was mad at President Bush for sending his brother to Iraq.

Andrew Thurman, 18, told police that he and 19-year-old Frederick Stevenson stole the signs from several west Nashville neighborhoods because his brother, a U.S. marine, was sent to Iraq.

"It's not unusual to see the isolated theft of campaign signs in local, state and federal elections," Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said. "However, this is the first time I can recall that someone who admits responsibility for the theft has linked it to the war in Iraq."

Thurman, Stevenson and two other teens were riding in a Honda Accord when they were stopped by police. Officers searched the car and found the signs, along with three pistols.

Thurman and Stevenson were cited for misdemeanor charges of theft and unlawful weapon possession. The other teens, who were both minors, face only the weapon charge.

Officials say this presidential campaign has triggered more reports of stolen campaign signs than in previous elections.

"It's a little bit more pronounced this time around," said David Cocke, chairman of the Kerry campaign in Shelby County. "There's a lot more intense feeling about this election."

Monitoring the signs isn't easy, but people are being asked to take precautions, such as putting signs closer to their property. Others have taken more drastic measures.

http://www.wsmv.com/global/story.asp?s=2366825&ClientType=Printable

[sniffa]

1. i Like him

he shouLd join our team.

[Radical Activist]

2. An act of civil disobedience

I can imagine how he felt with his brother being sent. I like the kid.

[olddem43]

3. In this case I would love to be on the jury.

I would recommend him for a good citizenship award.

[WilliamPitt]

4. Why the three pistols?

[RetroLounge]

7. Yeah, that bothers me too...

Why handguns in the car?

RL

[RubyDuby in GA]

8. Target practice on the signs??

Further explanation as I don't want anyone to think that I'm advocating metaphorically offing the Bush/Cheney ticket. You hear that Ashcroft - I do not advocate violence towards these two people!! Leave me alone!!

I just meant that here in the South (insert jokes here), sometimes kids will shoot at traffic signs out in the country and things like that.

[mrbassman03]

22. Yeah, that would be my bet...

I like the idea of stealing the signs for a reason other than a dislike of the candidate.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

14. It's Tennessee

They don't need a reason to be packin' heat.

[TX-RAT]

23. Why resort to theft. A vote is much more effective.

[skylarmae]

5. Georgie Porgie, let the kids go!!!

A compasionate conservative would LET THE KIDS GO!

[Cha]

6. Poor thing...I would want to Lash Out..too,

BIG TIME! I hope this makes some people THINK over there in Tennessee!

[Phillycat]

9. Isn't civil disobedience proctected?

If so, why is this kid being prosecuted? It's a clear case of civil disobedience as I understand it. Can someone explain to me why this kid is being prosecuted?

[LifeDuringWartime]

15. theyre being prosecuted

for unlawful posession of a handgun. no licenses perhaps?

[sangh0]

16. Civil disobedience is, by definition, illegal

It wouldn't be worth pursuing if it were legal.

[TX-RAT]

19. Because its plan misdemeanor theft, and a weapons charge.

Theft is theft. they shouldn't have done it.

[johnnie]

10. Next we will hear about someone stealing 72 Kerry signs

...because they want their kids to go to Iraq and get killed.

[HEyHEY]

11. We should take that guy out for beers

[SheilaT]

12. So it's okay to steal

their signs, but not for them to steal ours?

If this kid wants to influence people not to vote for W & Cabal, he should be knocking on doors and talking to them and telling them the facts about what the administration has done to this country. Stealing signs will do nothing except harden the Bush supporters.

[el_gato]

13. Your moral outrage is duly noted

Still I'm happy to see kids getting involved.

[TX-RAT]

20. If they want to get involved, they need to vote. " Not Steal"

It hurts our cause.

[sangh0]

17. Well, Bush* can send them to Iraq, but they can't send Bush* there

and the universe demands that that be compensated for somehow. :-)

[Deja Q]

18. Steal them? F no! It'd be more interesting to see the signs...

...defaced with Swastikas and other such emblems.

[Book Lover]

21. Hmmm. steal or deface, steal or deface

I think I'd vote for steal. If a sign is defaced, it engenders more sympathy than if it is simply missing.