A Serious Situation That Must Be Addressed

This story points to a major problem that has seemed to have escalated in recent years. When I was growing up, people kids/young adults used to knock mailboxes off of their stands. Now, their putting pipe bombs in them. This is a situation that is extremely serious and all politicians should be addressing it. If they don't start dealing with this issue then there will be many seriously be injured or killed.

The story doesn't mention their ages, but KTIV (where this story aired) made mention on tonight's 10pm newscast that the youths ranged from ages 15 to 17.

Why do politicians need to do parents' job for them?

A rod to the behind works wonders.

Knocking down and/or stealing mailboxes was a huge pastime around here.  After losing about 10 mailboxes in as many months, we finally got a box at the PO instead.  A pain the butt, but cheaper than replacing mailboxes every month!

Honestly, folks, this wasn't posted about the knocking down of mailboxes. It was about the use of explosive devices that destroyed some of them. The pipe bombs/explosive devices are a serious threat to lives. There may come a time when someone you know ends up being hurt because some youth/young adult decides it's cute or exciting. And, there may come a time when someone I know gets hurt because of an act like this. Therefore, I believe this type of situation has a real chance of getting out of hand. As we have seen in past incidents of other violent situations, when people see something happen from one part of the country others follow. So, I am looking ahead and I am pretty sure there will be other areas around the Country that will have similar incidences. And, they'll grow in number. Some examples: School shootings, kids beating up other kids, drive-up window pranks, and fires intentionally set.

When activities, such as these, are televised youths/young adults have a tendency to mimmick what they have seen or heard about. One thing that can help to counteract these growing number of incidences is for the media/YouTube to limit the amount of destructive behavior that people can view. I, also, understand that there is free speech/expression that's allowed in the U.S. But, violent activities such as these are not covered as free speech/expression. They are crimes. They are punishable by incarceration. They are types of activities in which people can throw their lives away just because they thought they were being cute.

I admit, I was that type of person when I was younger. However, I didn't do anything that could seriously injure or kill people. The pipe bombs these children used could have done just that if a person would have gotten to their mailbox as the device was going off.

As I had said earlier, there would be more acts like the pipe bombs put in mailboxes until the situation is addressed and it did. This article was done today at 4:10pm in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Gazette: http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/NEWS/352302441/1001/NEWS

Rash of explosives in mailboxes

Eastern Benton County is one of three places across the state where explosive devices have recently been found in mailboxes, the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported.

Special Agents with the State Fire Marshal's Office have responded to numerous incidents in recent weeks to assist local law enforcement agencies with investigations.

On Monday, State Fire Marshal officials were called to assist the Benton County Sheriff's Office investigate an incident where four mail boxes were destroyed by unknown devices along a three-mile stretch of road in the eastern part of Benton County. No injuries were reported and no suspects have been identified in this case; however, the investigation continues.

The first response involved numerous mail boxes damaged in Spencer. Investigators with the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Spencer Police as well as Iowa State Patrol Troopers, Agents with the State Fire Marshal's Office and U.S. Postal Inspectors determined 17 mail boxes were targeted. As a result of an extensive investigation, five juveniles were charged with 17 federal felony violations and 7 state felony violations. All five await trial.

"In most cases, these incidents are the result of juveniles placing homemade devices in mail boxes to see what happens." said Eugene Meyer, Commissioner of Public Safety. "What these kids fail to realize is law enforcement takes their response to these incidents very seriously and will file criminal charges on those found to be responsible. As demonstrated by the case in Spencer, serious felony charges will likely result. Not to mention the risk of someone being seriously injured or killed by one of these devices."

A similar incident occurred on the south side of Des Moines on Friday; however, investigators have found no link between any of the cases.

The State Fire Marshal's Office provides the following tips should you find a suspicious device in your mailbox.

— Many of these devices may be made with P.V.C. pipe, metal pipe or a liter jug.

— If you find such a device, do not touch or remove it.

— Leave the mailbox door open, leaving the mailbox as you found it.

— Call 911 immediately.

— Keep others away from the mailbox.

— Call your local law enforcement agency if you see ANY suspicious activity near your residence