Glitter bombs away!

Last Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was glitter bombed at a speech in Colorado.

Glitter bombing, usually used as a form of protest against public figures who do not support gay marriage, involves showering someone with a handful of glitter as he or she walks on stage or toward an important engagement.

Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich have also fallen victim to these sparkly attacks.

Tuesday’s glitter bombing, however, is different. The student who tossed the glitter was charged with “throwing a missile” and “unlawful acts on campus grounds.” If convicted, 20-year-old Peter Smith could face up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Smith, who was working as an unpaid intern for the Colorado Senate Democrats, was promptly fired and also faced possible expulsion from University of Colorado Denver. Although UCD chose to take no disciplinary action, Smith still faces the other charges.

This seems a little disproportionate.

Although throwing glitter at a GOP candidate is certainly grounds for termination from a political internship, it shouldn’t mean possible expulsion from school and jail time.

Frankly, we all have much bigger things to worry about.

Glitter bombs are the work of gay rights activists attempting to take individual agency for their cause. Glitter is much less destructive than paint, dirt or an actual missile, and it’s more respectful than spit.

Last summer, Huckabee claimed “You’ve got to draw the line” for glitter bombs, but we think the line should be drawn with more consideration of what actually makes a crime and what punishment is appropriate.

College students protesting for their rights shouldn’t face jail time. In fact, the harshness of Smith’s threatened punishment reeks of a candidate embarrassed to be targeted.

Although throwing fine substances at a public figure is certainly not the best idea in our terrorism-paranoid culture, it shouldn’t make the crime on par with “assault,” as it’s been filed.

As a result of the glitter bomb, Romney’s suit was slightly more fabulous than usual during his speech and, other than that, no harm was done.

Nonetheless, Smith’s criminal charges are drawing widespread attention and disbelief, giving the incident a Barbara Streisand effect of sorts.

In the future, if the GOP wishes to draw less attention to the fact that it’s being consistently targeted by gay rights activists for its stunning disregard for LGBT citizens, it shouldn’t use the full force of the U.S. Secret Service on an intern with a small handful of glitter.