REFORM DRUG LAWS

Re: "New drug danger: SW Florida fears meth madness," Feb. 13. The
crying need for new laws regarding drug manufacturing, peddling and
penalties is obvious to all in law enforcement and those who legislate,
and to the public.

The DEA has worked unsuccessfully, and at great cost in life and
funds, to stop the flow from abroad. Now this new drug is manufactured
right in our country.

The devastation and sorrow drug sales inflict are a leading cause of
the peril we now face. Look how many are in jail from drug-induced
crimes as well as the crime of "possession." See how many families
live in anguish because one of their members is in jail because of
drugs.

Many of our enemies are happy to see our apparent unwillingness to
write tough laws on drug peddlers. Do some of them get support from
the drug sales? Congress must write a law that will put all
non-addicted drug peddlers away for life. Convert a couple of those
isolated, decommissioned military bases to a stockade with lots of
barbed wire fencing, like the old prisoner of war camps. Make them
work and grow their own food, keep them busy. No TV. This will
eliminate the turnstile justice so frustrating to law enforcement. Why
is this not being done? Are the lobbyists that strong?

Howard Newhard

Fort Myers