Over the last week, campaign signs from all three political groups started disappearing at an alarming rate. Many were found inlarge amounts, dumped into residences trash toters that were out for pickup. All three parties make a major investment in these signs and local residents display these signs on their properties to show support for certain candidates. This is one way the public uses to express their First Amendment rights. It is a shame that some people in our wonderful Town resort to thievery for whatever reason. There are several different rumors as to the reasons for the disappearing signs. All three political parties ask that if you find any of the missing signs, contact the party or drop the signs off at their headquarters downtown so that they may be reinstalled at the locations they were removed.
What do you think about this taking place in our Town?
It's ashame that some people take signs down. I've had one sign stolen last year and the replacement for it run. If someone took a campaign sign down that I approved of to be on my lawn then I would equate someone stealing the campaign sign on my lawn as stealing my personal property. So whoever took all those signs commited numerous counts of larceny. Many volunteers spend hours put out those signs for their respective parties. Eventhough people in Hammonton are normally friendly and some dislike or dismiss those with opposing views. Hammontonians normally act civil. I wonder if these campaign sign thefts are indicative of an election with a lot of emotion right underneath the surface.
Over the last week, campaign signs from all three political groups started disappearing at an alarming rate. Many were found inlarge amounts, dumped into residences trash toters that were out for pickup. All three parties make a major investment in these signs and local residents display these signs on their properties to show support for certain candidates. This is one way the public uses to express their First Amendment rights. It is a shame that some people in our wonderful Town resort to thievery for whatever reason. There are several different rumors as to the reasons for the disappearing signs. All three political parties ask that if you find any of the missing signs, contact the party or drop the signs off at their headquarters downtown so that they may be reinstalled at the locations they were removed.
What do you think about this taking place in our Town?
I agree. In my neighborhood, I have an HF sign. One neighbor has a Republican sign. Another has a Democrat sign. It's each of our own personal decisions. Heck, they came over for my daughter's birthday party so we all understand each other. Whomever we support is our choice. It isn't right for people to be stealing signs... heck I think it is a Federal crime! Maybe if one of these people went to jail who were out stealing signs or else running them over like happened with one guy last year then people would respect each other's choices.
Frank DiMatteo told the paper that the Republicans have actually had far fewer missing this year. Apparently the missing signs are mostly Democrat and HF signs.
The paper also said that very few HF signs have been touched, so it seems someone is very afraid of the Democrats.
Actually, the paper quotes the police...
Reached Monday, Hammonton Police Detective Joel Frederico said the department received a report of someone stealing Hammonton First signs and mums along Central Avenue last Thursday. The recovery of the signs in the Locust Street area was also reported to police, he said.
In any event, it is wrong to steal Democrat signs just as it is wrong to steal Hammonton First signs (or Republican, too). Either group's supporters have a right to display those signs if they so choose.
It is embarrassing to live in a town in this great country of ours that has residents "stealing" lawn signs that show the residents' First Amendment Rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Our forefathers fought and died so that we may have the freedom to express our views, and now some idiot is stealing lawn signs????This is another embarrassment brought to our town.
I dont care what political party you belong to, we all have the right to display our party preferences on our front lawn.An attack on one party is an attack on all parties.
This should not be tolerated in Hammonton, or anywhere in the US, regardless of which political party you belong to.This is America, after all.
