IMPLEMENT HIGHER FINES, PRISON TIME IN WAR ON DRUGS

To the Times:

Do any of our legislators, judges or law-enforcement officers realize
how many deaths are reported in our daily newspapers from overdose or
murder due to the use of drugs?

When discussing anyone dealing with drugs, whether we use the term
drug cartel, drug lord or drug dealer, each describes an enemy of
American society. They are directly responsible for any crime
committed by those who need to obtain money to fuel their habit and
indirectly responsible for all of the deaths caused by illegal drug use.

Do any of us realize the cost illegal drugs have throughout our
country when we consider the manpower and time spent in law
enforcement, legal representation, court activity, incarceration,
crisis intervention, psychological examinations, family counseling
and any medical treatment needed? The amount to all of our states is
staggering. The total could possibly pay the interest on our national debt.

There is only one real solution to this problem, but the numerous
bleeding hearts in our society will never let us use it. As most
drugs come across either our nation's borders and/or state lines, the
law should be changed to make all drug sales a federal crime and
anyone caught with $1,000 or more in illegal drugs should face a
mandatory 20-years-to-life sentence. Although the cost of such
incarceration would seem high, over time it would be far less than
the money spent to solve our nation's drug problems.

Well, I guess some will say, "That 86-year-old woman has struck
again," but I hope that those in power will listen because our
nation's drug problems are another reason why our country is
floundering and corrective action to solve this situation is imperative.

By Dorothy M. Paulley

Chester