THE ISSUE: New Jersey’s response to the execution-style murders in Newark.

Your editorial, “Jersey ‘Justice’ ” (PostOpinion, Aug. 19), is a grand slam, as common sense is not too common in the Garden State of blooming crime.

It seems that the laws, along with justice, are defunct, and the mantra of peace is dead.

Electing Gov. Jon Corzine only compounded this devastating growth of crime that has blossomed for the past 40 years.

Sure, we had crime in the past, but not the kind we see at the present, where the judges are also incompetent. Where have you gone, Judge Roy Bean?

All of America has become passive at the hands of a few leaders who care more about excuses for heinous crimes. Greater teaching of civility and obeying the law would help immensely.

Richard Homer Bucco
Bloomfield, N.J.

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Jersey justice? There ain’t no such animal, and there’s likely never to be one, because we the people will never hold politicians like Corzine to account.

Corzine knows this, and it’s why he may rally against guns – all in all, it’s politically safe. But a major overhaul of the criminal-justice system? Forget it. There’s too much political risk involved for Corzine.

One thing Corzine understands is risk management. After all, that’s how he made his millions on Wall Street.

Gary Schwartz
Fort Lee, N.J.

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Talk about depressing news. Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a highly educated and generally sophisticated observer of social issues, says, “It’s no way the obligation of the city Police Department to be going around doing the work of [ICE].”

But the police are not doing the work of the immigration authorities. They are doing their job of catching criminals, some of whom turn out to be illegal aliens.

Would Booker want the police, who in the course of catching criminals discover that one could be a terrorist, not contact the CIA?

There is always the danger that sophistication trumps common sense.

Dave M. O’Neill
Manahttan