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Show MAKING IT UNPLEASANT FOR CRIMINALS New York State leads the way r.i taking definate action to reduc"" ciime. Instead of passing new laws and regulations re-gulations to encroach upon th" rights and privileges of law-abiding citizens, it passed the Baumes law in 1926. which automatically sr-ntences a man convicted for the fourth time of committing com-mitting a felony, to life impri'-nment. Naturally, there have been ob Actions to this law because it has "teet'i" in it but if crime is to be reduced the number nu-mber of criminals and potential criminals crim-inals must also be reduced. There is no excuse for a. man committi!-? four crimes of a character to involve a penitentiary pen-itentiary sentence. Why should the public be subjected to the danger of meeting habitual criminals? New York has taken a step in the right direction. It should be upheld in its program to catch the crook keep him caught, hand him a fittim; sentence and see that he serves it. Sentimental individuals claim tha severe punishment does not deter the criminal, but makes him hate- societ Thi apparently has not been the easr in New York. The certainly of hfr imprisoment for a fourth felony has stayed the hand of the hardened crim inal. He thinks twice before sentenc ini? himself under such a law. What New York has dene the rest of the country must do if it actually desires to overcome, the criminal elements: el-ements: make crime not only unprofitable unpro-fitable but highly inconvenient and dangerous for the perpetrator. |