Everyone who has been watching the news out of California is saddened. This is one of these cases where human sympathy should overlook politics; people, many of whom aren't overtly political in any case, are losing their homes, and have been in danger of losing their lives. Emergency personnel are in the field, doing their dangerous work. Many of us - me included - have friends and family in California, making this a crisis that affects the whole country.
Yes, if California's public lands and forests had been managed properly, this wouldn't necessarily be happening. That is a vital discussion to have, and there has to be some accountability for the people who let this happen, either through inaction or willing malfeasance to appease environmentalists.
But there's another problem to deal with: Looting. Some looters have already been arrested.
During a press conference Wednesday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said two looters were arrested Wednesday morning in evacuation zones and issued a stark warning to anyone thinking of committing any further crimes.
"If you are thinking of coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, you're going to get caught, you're going to be arrested, and you're going to be prosecuted," Luna said. "Don't do that! Stay out of these areas. It's only for emergency workers and people who live there."
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone also stated that there have, so far, been two deaths and many injuries in the fires, along with millions in property losses. So looting is something that must not be tolerated or excused.
In addition to two deaths, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said many others were hurt in the fires, which threatened at least 28,000 structures.
At least 70,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, officials said. The flames marched toward highly populated and affluent neighborhoods home to California’s rich and famous. Hollywood stars, including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods, were among those forced to flee.
This is a deadly serious matter - which is why looting must be dealt with harshly, as a severe crime with life-threatening consequences.
Previously on RedState: Wednesday Morning Minute
The Press and Democrats Mocked Trump Over Wildfires, Now the Receipts Loom Large
There are three reasons for this.
First: The looters here, or indeed in any natural disaster, are not just stealing; that's bad enough. They are taking advantage of a major crisis in which people are forced to flee their homes, sometimes with nothing but what they can carry. Looters in these circumstances are taking callous and hateful advantage of a dreadful situation. Furthermore, they are entering into a dangerous region, an area that is literally on fire, which takes callous disregard to a new level and endangers lives. Looting during civil unrest carries the same risks and must also be considered as life-threatening.
Second: Looters distract law enforcement from other vital duties, like helping to direct evacuations. Police must stop with their emergency duties to pursue, apprehend, and transport these criminals, and every moment they spend doing that rather than assisting with evacuation is endangering lives. During these fires, every possible warm body must be directed towards the work of securing evacuation routes, assisting citizens, and dealing with the blaze.
Third: Looters are sometimes not just one or two individuals but many; in the summer of 2020 we saw mobs of looters causing millions, if not billions, of dollars in theft and property loss. Even when informally organized, mobs of looters - and thankfully we haven't seen any mob looting in the LA area - can represent a serious threat to law enforcement and emergency services like fire and ambulances, thereby endangering lives.
Clearly, this can't be allowed to go on.
Looting during a natural disaster or a riot is not a crime like shoplifting or even smash-and-grab robbery. It is a much more serious offense and must be dealt with harshly. The operating assumption for law enforcement or even National Guard troops must be that these are criminals engaged in offenses on the level of attempted homicide, as their actions could very easily result in severe injuries or deaths.
Sheriff Luna's statement struck the right tone but must be followed up with action. Two perps have already been arrested. Let us hope that this will serve as discouragement for other would-be looters. But if any more arrive on the scene, they should be immediately stopped, by whatever means are required, tried, and if convicted - yes, they have constitutional rights like anyone else - harshly punished.
This is a crime that we simply cannot and should not tolerate.
