No leniency should be shown to those who have been on destructive rampages here.

Tires on vehicles from Nebraska are mindlessly slashed, young people roam the local streets shooting out windows in vehicles, and local schools regularly are broken into and pillaged for no reason whatever.

A young woman interviewed in the aftermath of the pellet gun rampage made an important point when she told a local television reporter: “In the past, this was the kind of thing you wouldn’t expect in Lawrence, but now it not only happens here but in most every other town.”

In nearby Kansas City and Topeka of late there have been damaging, injurious and even fatal sorties by malcontents with some real or imagined vendetta against somebody or something. Two youngsters, for example, critically shot a man while roaming on a carjacking spree and breaking into a home to get whatever it was they wanted.

We can’t do much about Kansas City or Topeka, but we can make firm statements about Lawrence.

Call such a mindset a social disease — not the kind once associated with “unmentionable” sexual activities. There is a growing plague.

What in the world kind of satisfaction can dolts get from slashing tires? What is proved by shooting out windows? How does ripping apart school rooms do anyone any good?

The community is understandably disgusted about the tire incidents and has openly apologized to those who were hit. It wouldn’t hurt for officials at Kansas University and the city to make contact with proper authorities in Nebraska to express our displeasure as a community. Sadly, there probably already are troublemakers in Nebraska who are trying to devise some manner of revenge when Kansas people travel to Lincoln for a football game next year.

When and how can it all be ended?

First, anyone found guilty of the local events should be penalized as sternly as possible. That should be accompanied by public service they can’t elude.

Then, those who slashed the tires, shattered the windows and ripped the schools should be forced to pay for their damage — no matter how long it takes and no matter how hard they have to work. They all should be put on the books and not released from their obligations until the bills are paid.

There is too much acceptance anymore of “kids will be kids” and too much “understanding” for those who cause such trouble. There is evidence that the window-pingers are ages 17 and 18. These are not “kids.” One at least is old enough to vote. Their responsibilities as citizens should be driven home forcibly by punishment and unwavering financial retribution.

If there is any unreasonable leniency in these and other matters, others will only be encouraged to emulate the crimes. We have a social disease that will not be conquered by coddlers preaching sweetness and light.