Free speech gets ugly

MONTROSE  — One may call them "harmless pranks," but the law calls them theft and criminal mischief.

Election years inspire free speech. Residents show their support for their candidates and political parties through bumper stickers, banners and yard signs. It's their first amendment right to do so.

However, others have infringed on residents' rights by stealing and desecrating those political statements. Both Republican and Democrat headquarters' representatives say they don't support these acts or encourage them.

"It just shouldn't happen that way regardless if we don't believe in the other party and their individuals," said Dave Laursen, vice chair for the Montrose County Republican Party. "We all have the right to freedom of speech."

Monday morning, Montrose resident Margaret Mocko had to leave work after her neighbor reported that people were on her property desecrating her Obama signs and putting up McCain/Palin support signs.

Mocko has been volunteering at the Democratic headquarters for several months. She thought the vandalism might be a result of her participation. However, she chose to file a police report for another reason.

"Beyond the political thing, it makes a single mom feel unsafe (that people are trespassing on her property)," she said.

It's not just the Obama supporters getting picked on. The McCain signs in her yard were possibly stolen from other yards, she said. She returned them to the Republican headquarters.

"People are saying they are losing signs in their front yard," Laursen said. One resident had to replace a McCain/Palin sign four times and noticed his neighbor signs missing as well. Lawn signs cost $5.

Laursen also reported that several large 4x8 McCain signs were stolen from another location.

Jayne Bilberry, Montrose County Democratic Party chair, said two large vinyl signs were stolen from headquarters on two different occasions. One sign cost $169 and the other $95. Because of the cost, they filed a police report.

"It hurts the county parties when you don't have that much cash flow," Bilberry said.

This weekend, she said that someone ran over several McCain signs by a car wash in Montrose.

"I think everyone on each part of the spectrum is passionate, sometimes beyond reason," Bilberry said.

Stealing political signs is considered theft and charges depend on the value of the stolen property, said Kathi Kinkel, Montrose Police Department public information officer.

"There have been some reports of that type of thing and usually there is little or no suspects," she said. Police are "keeping an eye out" for these activities.

However, around the country that has not always been the case. In Hays County, Texas, three boys under the age of 16 vandalized a car that displayed Obama stickers. They were charged with felony counts of criminal mischief, according to the Oct. 25 Wimberley View.

It's not always "harmless pranks" either. In Montrose, a vehicle was seen keyed with hateful words against Obama.

"We tell our people 'don't do it,'" said Laursen. "Give people the right to express their opinions ... don't be ugly about it."