ACCEPT PUNISHMENT

Convicted Felons

I was wondering how long it would take Tonyaa Weathersbee to jump back
on the same tired bandwagon.

In her Jan. 12 column, she slapped Gov. Jeb Bush around for stopping
by the faith-based prison in Lawtey on Christmas Eve.

The governor visited prisoners who signed up for the prison's self-
improvement and religious courses now offered.

In her usual form, Weathersbee then "slapped" Bush, accusing him of
"messing with their heads," because he hasn't already endorsed the
automatic restoration of their right to vote once they have completed
their sentences.

The irrational insistence that voting restoration of a convicted felon
be automatic because they have taken a couple of courses is consistent
with Weathersbee's method of operation.

Then, we are treated to an intangible tirade of the history of
Florida's 135-year-old felony disenfranchisement law, complete with
all of the racial hype that Weathersbee can muster up. Any way this
columnist links the dots, they always point to the same conspiracy
theory.

Here, again, is an opportunity for Weathersbee to include her favorite
unfairness issue, too many blacks are in prison for minor, non-violent
drug offenses.

She complains that more than 10 percent of the state's black residents
of voting age are banned because of felony convictions. Again, these
folks should be rehabilitated, not punished.

Why can't Weathersbee see that forgiveness for crimes against society
must begin with accepting personal responsibility and punishment?

Deterrent, punishment and self-improvement through core values based
in religion are the building blocks of rehabilitation. Blame is
counterproductive.

Stephen M. Supernak,

production controller,

Kingsland, Ga.