provocation by those who would use accusations against
them (. to incite agitation for their objectives.
All levels of law enforcement would greatly
be improved if the entire citizenry were thoroughly con-
vinced that the violation of any law or regulation would
result in inescapable, impartial and severe punishment.
When I say "severe punishment" I mean so severe that its
risk would not be justified.
Too many people are willing to play Russian
roulette with crime because they know all of the cylinders
of severe punishment are not loaded. They are being con-
stantly indoctrinated with the current trend to light
sentences, suspended sentences, paroled sentences, and
punishment being deferred interminably by legal maneuv-
ering. Only when punishment is certain, swift and severe,
can it serve as a maximum deterrent.
Certainly, every intelligent effort should be
made to rehabilitate criminals and, being very sure we
have done so, to return them to freedom. But it is much
better to prevent their becoming criminals in the first
place. The preventive, or at least, the deterrent, is certain,
swift and severe punishment.
Of course, the ultimate ideal is a total moral
abhorrence of and abstention from, all crime by all people.
It is a far distant state, but one which deserves constant
seeking. However, in the meantime, the problem of in-
creasing and Hagrant law violation is here now. It must
be dealt with by using the means at hand.
The very survival of this free nation depends
upon respect for, and enforcement of, law and order. If it