Not many things are considered lower than when someone desecrates a gravesite.

Compounding that act, is when that gravesite belongs to a military veteran.A Luzerne County legislator has seen these acts in his own district, and he's determined enough is enough.State Rep. Gerald Mullery has introduced two bills in Harrisburg that would inflict stiffer penalties on thieves and scrap dealers who buy the stolen material.Motivated by a rash of veterans grave marker robberies earlier this year, Mullery's one bill would make theft from a cemetery a felony, carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and $15,000 fine.Also, Mullery's second bill proposes to toughen the Scrap Material Theft Prevention Act by increasing the grading of a first violation from a summary offense to a third-degree misdemeanor. The fine for a first-time offense would increase from $2,500 to $5,000 for a scrap dealer knowingly buying stolen metals. Fines for second and subsequent violations would increast to $10,000."My hope is that my bills will quickly become law, and thieves think twice before trying to make a quick buck off a veteran's marker," Mullery said. "These markers are precious remembrances for those who served our country."Earlier this year, flags and grave markers were stolen from a Nesquehoning cemetery. Over the years, there have been other thefts of this type reported.Mullery says his bills have bipartisan support, and are being co-sponsored by 67 representatives. Both are currently in committee. He said he hopes there will be final votes on both bills by the fall.With that kind of backing, passage of the bills seem to be merely a formality.We hope so.And so do a lot of veterans.It would be nice to see these bills become law before Veterans' Day on Nov. 11.Bob Urbanrurban@tnonline.com