The sign wars continue in the campaign for or against an anti-gay marriage amendment.

John R. McAllister of Duluth sent a letter to the Duluth News Tribune making a striking claim about political sign theft:

It is an organized and well-orchestrated campaign to remove from some citizens a basic right: the right to an expression of free speech. Although one may argue that freedom of marriage is significant, that freedom is not in our Constitution and does not reach the magnitude of freedom of speech.

Since the theft of lawn signs does constitute a property crime, the police department should be involved in apprehending these culprits. We don’t know for certain the guilty party’s identity, but it must be someone who does not want a “yes” on the marriage amendment.

As TheColu.mn noted earlier this month, claims of victimhood by marriage amendment supporters is overblown. It happens to both sides.

For example, WCCO noted that in Bloomington, Vote No signs had been vandalized.

“The sign is in my front yard and this morning I discovered that the sign had been marked,” Dennis Kane said. “I was disappointed.”

At least four signs near Normandale Boulevard and Old Shakopee Road had the “no” scribbled out and “yes” put in place. Others signs had genitals drawn on them.

“I know there are good folks on the other side of this issue,” Kane said. “And it’s unfortunate that a few wreck it for them.”

Michael Lackey, writing in the Morris Sun Times, notes that sign stealing is happening more often to Vote No households:

In recent days, numerous signs supporting gay marriage in Minnesota have been stolen or vandalized in Morris. This, of course, is a violation of our Constitutional right to free speech as Americans, but it is also an act of incivility that I have rarely seen in Morris. While I am frustrated that some are trampling on our rights as Americans, I am writing this in all sincerity in order to initiate what I hope will be an important conversation

Members of the Gustavus Adolphus campus were also hit by vandals:

Shortly after 10:30 the night of Sunday, Sept. 9, a “Vote No” poster hanging in an apartment window was vandalized on the Gustavus campus. “Vote No” has been the slogan adopted by those in opposition to the newly proposed marriage amendment that will appear on the ballot this upcoming November. The incident stunned and shocked the victims of the vandalism because it seemed out of character for a community with a reputation for warmth and friendliness.

Minnesotans United said on Facebook that it shouldn’t happen to either side:

There is absolutely no room for this kind of vandalism in the conversation about who should have the freedom to marry in our state. Whether you support or oppose this amendment, we strongly urge and ask you to refrain from behavior like this. As Minnesotans, we should be inviting our neighbors to have respectful, civil conversations about this amendment and why marriage matters. Let’s all be better than this

Minnesota for Marriage is making hay out of sign vandalization claims but no call for civility:

Another vandalized sign picture emailed to Minnesota for Marriage. For simply understanding that marriage is the union between one man and one woman and that kids need a mom and a dad, these Amendment supporters were labeled “Fascists”–