Pubdate: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711 Fax: (714) 565-3657 Website: http://www.ocregister.com/ Author: Jim McGreagor, Irvine 'THREE STRIKES' LAW HAS BEEN BADLY APPLIED The "three strikes" policy is not the culprit["'Three strikes' strikes out," Editorial, Nov.10]. The concept of keeping career violent criminals off the streets is a sound one. By definition keeping habitual violent criminals out of society reduces crime. It works. The Culprit is the implementation by over-zealous prosecutors. When the only tool you use is a hammer, everything starts looking like it needs a nail. What ever happened to common sense? Jim McGreagor, Irvine - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D