Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has suggested that those who deface freeways with graffiti should have their thumbs cut off on television.
Goodman, appearing Wednesday on the “Nevada Newsmakers” television show, said, “In the old days in France, they had beheading of people who commit heinous crimes.
“You know, we have a beautiful highway landscaping redevelopment in our downtown. We have desert tortoises and beautiful paintings of flora and fauna. These punks come along and deface it.
“I’m saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb,” the mayor added. “That may be the right thing to do.”
Goodman also suggested that whippings or canings should be brought back for children who get into trouble.
“I also believe in a little bit of corporal punishment going back to the days of yore, where examples have to be shown,” Goodman said.
Before he was elected mayor, Goodman was a defense attorney who represented leading organized crime figures like Meyer Lansky, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro. So he may be familiar with punishments involving thumbs and other body parts.
