HIDER: No, he's a criminal

The Coeur d’Alene library book hider and his misdeeds are in other news outlets besides the New York Times — specifically the Miami Herald, whose columnist, Leonard Pitts, wrote of the individual, which our local Charlotte Observer picked up.

That said, this individual is a criminal, pure and simple. His crimes are vandalism in the form of tampering with library property and not respecting the rights to free speech of others.

What needs to be done is to first install video cameras throughout the library to capture library patrons such as this person committing his crimes against library property. Once this has been done, prints of this individual could be made and posted in the library with a request that patrons spotting this individual turn him into library staff — the same as is done with “wanted” posters. And while this is a form of Big Brotherism (which I am against), this is a case where it is appropriate, as this does involve a crime.

An appropriate punishment for this individual would be to require him to speak to school groups about respecting property rights of others and the right of everyone to express their views, regardless of how much we may disagree with them. Without this basic right, freedom of expression is worthless.

STEPHEN V. GILMORE

Charlotte, N.C.