MODEL SUCCESS

Re: Jail terms don't deter crime, Jan. 31.

If long prison terms or tough drug laws prevented crime, the United
States would have a very low crime rate. We do not.

In the Czech Republic, citizens can legally grow and possess small
quantities of cannabis. Czech citizens use cannabis at higher rates
than perhaps any other people on the planet. Therefore, according to
the logic of our drug-war cheerleaders, the Czech Republic must have a
very high crime rate.

When I did a Google search for "crime in Czech Republic," I found that
they have a homicide rate of two per 100,000 population. Their rate of
robbery and violent theft was also at two per 100,000 population. Drug
offences are listed at one per 100,000 population per year.

I suggest that readers compare the U.S. and Czech crime rates, then
decide which country has the best drug policies. My suggestion is that
we model success, not failure.

Kirk Muse,

Mesa, Arizona