Like so many other cities, Philadelphia has been experiencing an epidemic of retail theft, with looters emptying out stores on a regular basis. The cultural and societal impacts of this trend are both obvious and negative. After hearing repeated complaints from lawful citizens, the Philadelphia City Council moved this week to do something about it, but their “solution” was rather curious. They passed a ban on the wearing of ski masks in certain public places, with a modest fine imposed on those who violate the ban. It’s true that many of the looters wear masks of various types to conceal their identities while emptying out stores, but is this really going to cut down on looting? Opponents of the measure also claim that some people will be unfairly targeted while not committing any crimes. (Associated Press)Read More