REPEALING PENALTIES SLIGHTS GOAL OF LAW

According to the April 30 news brief, "Officials seek parity for
crack, powder cocaine," the Obama administration wants to "close the
gap in prison sentences given to those convicted of dealing crack
versus powdered cocaine," because "mandatory-minimum-sentencing
guidelines are so inherently unfair."

Lest we forget, crack is a cheap, crude, highly potent and extremely
addictive form of cocaine that in the early 1980s was sold primarily
by black drug dealers to poor black neighborhoods.

In 1986, African-American Congressman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., stating
that crack was destroying the black community, helped craft
guidelines that increased penalties for individuals convicted of
crack-related crimes. The added protection of the law, demanded by
the black community, has worked extremely well.

Now those unfamiliar with the origins of this law protest that it's
racist and unfair because so many of those prosecuted have been
black. But will repealing the law hurt or help?

Sandra S. Bennett

La Center