It's about time one of these fools went to jail: Enough is enough, says the Duluth, Minn., News Tribune in an editorial. "Arresting a glitter bomber may seem unnecessary and over-the-top, but a criminal record and fine (or other punishment) can send a message to would-be copycats" before someone decides glitter isn't "flashy enough," and tries throwing something more serious, "like acid or worse." Besides, there are more effective ways to take a stand than "making yourself into a public spectacle."
"Why no arrests after glitter-bombings?"
At most these harmless protesters deserve a warning: "This is absurd and outrageous," says gossip blogger Perez Hilton. Smith absolutely does not deserve to go to jail for such a "totally nonviolent act of protest" — especially one that was "barely even successful!" The young man was merely expressing his political views in a way that was "pretty much harmless." At most, they should let him off with a stern warning.
"WTF! 20-Year-Old Student who glitter bombed Mitt Romney may get jail time!"
Eventually, someone was bound to end up behind bars: The authorities looked the other way the first time a GOP presidential candidate was glitter-bombed, says Erik Hayden at TIME. And the second. And the third. But at this point "nearly every single GOP presidential candidate has faced the ire of the glitter bomb[er]," and it's getting increasingly difficult to condone these assaults. The more the glitter piles up, the more likely it is that the authorities will use prosecution, and jail time, as a deterrent.
"'Glitter-bombing' a politician could get you six months in jail"
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