GROUP'S REACTION PUZZLES RESIDENT

In the Sunday, Jan. 18 newspaper, Tonyia Fairley expressed
concern over the fairness of Kado Jackson's 50-year sentence for
possessing almost three pounds of cocaine and selling it within 1,500
feet of a church. I am amazed that she isn't rejoicing that we now
have a judge and district attorney in place who are willing to do
something positive about the crime in Hattiesburg.

Ms. Fairley's complaint seems to be that Mr. Jackson's sentence and
fine are very high for a first offender. It is idealistic to expect
all first offenders to get the same sentence since circumstances and
the severity of the offense have to be taken into account. Mr. Kado
Jackson is reported to be 34 years old; that excludes him from being a
kid who didn't know any better. The amount of cocaine he had
represents a very large amount of money, and immeasurable amounts of
grief in terms of the lives that are destroyed by cocaine and its
derivatives.

Mr. Jackson may not have known that his penalties would be doubled if
he conducted his sales in the vicinity of a church, but he did know it
was illegal to sell drugs anywhere! He took a big chance and he is now
paying a big price.

All races and economic groups are affected by drug addiction, but the
black community seems to have suffered more than the rest in terms of
crime and lives lost. I am confused as to why Tonyia Fairley and the
group she represents are opposed to tough sentencing for drug dealers
(first offenders or not).

Jane Morgan

Hattiesburg