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Something Bigger Replaces Missing McCain Signs

John Piazza

This custom-made sign is one of two John Piazza put up in response to thefts of previous political signs from his yard.

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2008

For the past six weeks, Seminole resident John Piazza said he has had to buy plenty of John McCain signs to replace the ones that have gone missing from his front yard.

During the weekend, Piazza noticed that the newest signs had disappeared from the front of his house on 74th Avenue North in Seminole.

"Today, I just basically got fed up," said Piazza, who has lived in that rural area in Seminole for 10 years.

So Piazza went to a local sign store and asked employees to make two big signs for him. Those signs went up Monday. So did a few cameras used in deer hunting to deter or catch would-be sign thieves, Piazza said.

"I still wanted to make my point and show my patronage for John McCain," he said.

One sign says, "To those stealing my signs & 'constitutional right' to free speech—be careful, I also exercise my right to bare arms!"

The second says, "We'll keep our freedom, country guns and money you keep the 'change'!" written next to "Go McCain."

Piazza said he did not file a report with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office because law enforcement agencies have bigger problems to deal with than missing signs.

Authorities say it is not uncommon for signs endorsing both presidential candidates to go missing during a presidential election year.

"We're just being good citizens," said Piazza, who added that McCain supporters in his neighborhood have also had signs removed from their yards.

Piazza's solution to his missing signs is similar to the approach taken by residents of a Seminole Heights neighborhood last month. More than 19 Barack Obama signs had gone missing by Oct. 23 and supporters in that neighborhood hand-painted new signs.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at rreyes@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7920.

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