This thread is ridiculous.

I've owned a few businesses and if I caught someone stealing from me, I would have pressed charges. <br><br><br>A guy stole a pack of gum from my convenience store 3 years ago and I battled with the county to make sure he ended up on probation. I was awarded $25 in restitution and I was happy with that. The courts can only charge shoplifters withstealing an item at its wholesale price. So if someone steals $200 pair of boots, the courts can only charge them with taking the $50 wholesale price fromstealing. <br><br><br>I understand that it's not the crime it's the punishment. It's wrong for petty shoplifters to be jailed for 2 years when a violent felon only serves 2 years. Just like it's wrong for a billionaire to legally make $100 million while minimum wage is $7.25/hour. <br><br><br>But I feel like the solution is to turn a blind eye to petty shoplifting, not make it legal.