Sound Off highlights anonymous, brief takes on the news offered via telephone by Daily News readers.

I’m a resident of the city. The City of Washington has no business buying the Turnage Theater with tax dollars. Local people by the majority did not support the Turnage Theater when it was operating. Only the businesses downtown would like to see them buy it because they have something to gain. In retrospect, it was a mistake to try to save the theater in the first place. But the city should not buy it with taxpayers’ dollars. And the city should not operate it because the city is not responsible for people’s recreation. The city is only responsible for giving the people the services necessary by the City of Washington, not the Turnage Theater.

I wonder if our system of punishment is too lenient. I feel that men who abduct, rape and kill little children should be executed swiftly and in public. Behead them and let their bodies flop around like a headless chicken. To abuse and take the life of anyone is bad, but to take the life of a child who hasn’t had the chance to enjoy life is inhuman, and those who do it don’t deserve human treatment.

Call 252-946-2144 ext. 235 to comment, (30 seconds maximum time).