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Punish the Onlookers

A California girl’s alleged gang rapists face life in prison, but what of the two-dozen people who watched and said nothing? Wendy Murphy on why we need laws to compel bystanders to report crimes.

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Paul Sakuma / AP Photo
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Unless we ramp up the pressure on people to report crime, we risk ceding our communities to the power of thugs, rapists, and “no-snitch” bullies.

In Northern California, four young men, ages 15 to 19, have been charged with rape and special circumstances that could put them behind bars for life...

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