JAIL DRUG OFFENDERS

I read the letter to the editor about drug offenders filling up regional
jails. I strongly disagree with Thomas Hanes of Forest. I live in Amherst
County and work with many of the teens in Amherst and Nelson counties. Let
me tell you that if we don't put these people behind bars then our teens
are going to become involved in the same activity.

It has always infuriated me that our teens have nothing to do unless they
have money to join the county football or cheerleading squads. There are no
organized activities for them. When 60 percent of Amherst County lives in
poverty, how can we expect them to ever rise above their environment. We
have to offer some alternatives.

I offer the teens in my church and in my community alternatives such as
movie night and activities that are drug and alcohol free. I also stress to
them the importance of remaining drug and alcohol free as well as
encouraging them to stay in school, graduate and do something with their
lives. There is way too much drug activity going on within these two
counties. We need to set the precedent somewhere and if we don't start with
drug offenders who entice our young people then we'll have a bigger problem
later on. We shouldn't make illegal drugs legal. There is a reason our
government says no. We don't have to agree with it, but we do have to abide
by it. We also have to teach our young people to abide by the authorities
that have been put before them. If we don't, one day our country will be
out of control.

Pamela Self, Amherst