TOUGH PUNISHMENT CURBS DRUG USE

Re: Stop Unreasonable Drug Sentences, By Michael R. Bromwich, Nov. 27.

During the late'80s and early'90s, the crack cocaine epidemic swept the
nation and entered every corner of society. This epidemic not only affected
small town America but also devastated inner-cities. Murder rates
skyrocketed and we added the term "crack babies" to our vocabulary.

The people of America were sick and tired of the carnage and answered by
passing legislation making mandatory sentences a reality.

Bromwich has regretfully forgotten the faces of those crack babies we saw
on the front pages of our newspapers.

The Senate passed this powder-cocaine measure last month because it
understands that people will not do something - convert cocaine powder into
crack - if they are punished swiftly and severely. Could these sentencing
guidelines also be the reason why the crack cocaine epidemic isn't
front-page news any longer? Could it be that those so called Draconian
sentences are actually working? The prisons are full of criminals and the
crime rate is dropping. I wonder why?