I was sitting in my public affairs class the other day, trying to decide which way to lean my head when I went to sleep, when I noticed the classroom was involved in an inspired debate over what rights a resident has when encountering a burglar in his home.

"If he's on his way out with your (stuff)," the instructor offered, "your life isn't in danger, so you can't shoot him."

The general attitude was that it is really hard to figure out exactly when your life is in jeopardy.

We've got the "Three Strikes" law and an empty $375 million jail in Los Angeles. I have a better way to cut the cost of crime and save money to build mundane things like schools.

This is the West, which used to be the Old West, and I say "let's get barbaric."

If a guy catches a burglar in his house, no matter which direction he's heading, it should be open season on the criminal.

That's the way it should be, but if you give a would-be thief a well-deserved hollow point, you'll end up in San Quentin getting passed around like a Hacky Sack during intermission at a Green Day concert.

When did this happen? When did this country become Disneyland?

I understand that there are some social problems that lead to crime, but enough is enough. We don't need to hand out life terms to people who sell $10 worth of crack, but rapists, murderers, child molesters, and other true scum bags deserve nothing less than death.

As for capital punishment, California needs a real death penalty. We need to get rid of this wimp-ass lethal injection method and let the punishment truly fit the crime.

Did Robert Alton Harris lull his two teenage victims to sleep and then gently poke them with a needle? No, and the state need not be so benevolent either.

My five approved methods of taking out the "human" trash are: the gas chamber, guillotine, electric chair, gallows. And while we're at it, let's bring back crucifixion.

I know some liberals will be highly appalled at these suggestions, but I'll wait to get their support after they catch someone in their homes.

Rodd Cayton is a reporter for the Daily Forty-Niner.