DON'T FORCE ALL

Sunday "blue laws" are archaic laws written many years ago but have
never accomplished what they were originally intended to. That's why
they have largely been done away with across this country.

Prohibitionists, like those who opposed Sundayalcohol sales in
Belleview, feel morality can be legislated or controlled by banning
booze, that these laws will abate the urge for alcohol and create
pillars of the community. Prohibition was repealed was because it
didn't work. Juries failed to convict.

Drinking was worse than before the 18th Amendment and people were
drinking "rot gut" whiskey and getting sick and dying. We can see
similarities with our drug laws. We have a "war" on drugs and drug
use is worse. We don't need another war on alcohol. We have already
been there, done that and lost.

If a person has an addictive personality or just wants to drink, he
or she will find a way and someone will supply the source. We will
create, if alcohol is outlawed again, another black market at a much
higher price that will cause some to commit crimes for their
"illicit" behavior, causing us all harm and much expense to enforce.

Most adults can drink socially without causing any harm to themselves
or others and should be allowed to do so any day of the week, without
fear of breaking any laws or going to jail. And yes, the Bible also
says that a little wine is good for the body and soul, as well as
condemning drunkenness.

Addicts are people with problems. Their behavior, if destructive to
others, needs to be treated, not driven underground. The whole
population does not need to be punished for the few. It's like
everything else: the key is moderation, not forced abstinence.

Mike Kelly,

Sparr