The Garrido case

Re “Why was Garrido set free so soon?” Sept. 1

Here’s an idea. Instead of the Department of Corrections, how about changing the name to the Department of Protections and actually following through with protecting society from deranged criminals like accused kidnapper Phillip Garrido? Keep them off the streets.

The “three strikes” law is ludicrous by design because it implies that a second and third offense must transpire before the state locks the perpetrator away for good. A second and third offense means additional victims. Think about it. Wasn’t the suffering from the first families enough?

Alba Farfaglia

San Clemente

The reason this man was set free is the same reason California’s prisons are overcrowded: government-imposed sentencing for smokers of marijuana.

Of course, the reason for this must be because marijuana smokers pose a far greater threat to our society than rapists and murderers.

Glenn M. Langdon

Garden Grove

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I am not surprised at all that the deputies never entered Garrido’s backyard despite pointed complaints from neighbors that he had people -- children -- living there.

My husband and I have complained about vagrants living in a park across from our house, smoking pot and using the parking lot as a drive-through to sell drugs.

What did the police do? They came to the park, spoke to the vagrants, shook their hands and left.

That is the response you get from the police when they encounter a smooth talker. They really don’t want to be bothered, and they will let you know it if you call them again.

Rita Majkut

Van Nuys

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Another opportunity to reconsider how girls are raised in our culture: to be good, obedient, quiet and to always respect authority figures.

A few years ago, The Times reported on a little girl who had been snatched off the street. She fought off her attackers and leaped from the car, scared as she was.

It is certainly easier to raise kids who are compliant. As a former teacher, I remember the kids who always questioned everything. No doubt about it, the quiet, good ones make our lives easier. But they may make the kidnappers’ lives easier too.

Mary Ross

Cambria

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A young girl was kidnapped at the age of 11 and held for 18 years by a convicted rapist and kidnapper released on parole, and we’re still contemplating reforming our parole system?

Tamar Artin

Northridge