There are good ways to disagree with free speech and bad ways to disagree with free speech. Stealing campaign signs and defacing political artwork fall into the latter category.

During election season, free speech becomes even more important. As Americans, we have the right to express our political views, but community members should remember free speech is a privilege and shouldn’t be abused.

Tearing down political signs because the message is contradictory to your own opinions is nothing but abuse – not to mention an illegal offense.

Besides, taking a campaign sign out of someone’s yard doesn’t accomplish anything. It’s not going to change that person’s vote – it’s just going to make him or her mad.

And with campaign propaganda hitting everyone from all sides and sources, it’s unlikely removing a couple of signs is going to sway the community’s opinion, either. The message community members miss from one stolen yard sign will be emphasized hundreds of times over in the TV commercials flooding the airwaves and newspaper stories covering every campaign event from now until Nov. 2.

Let’s face it: Stealing signs is not going to get your candidate of choice into office. It might get you charged with criminal damage to property, however.

Instead, try some campaigning of your own. It can be as simple as obtaining a sign for a candidate you support and displaying it prominently on your own property. Or, if you are against the signs in general, choose not to display anything. But leave your neighbor’s sign where it is and afford him or her the right to free speech.

There are other ways to get your point across as well. Attend a rally or debate. Ask intelligent questions. Write letters to anyone who will listen – newspapers and politicians’ offices are good places to start.

The cliche goes that actions speak louder than words. But when the action is stealing private property, words can speak volumes instead.