DEALER WHERE HE BELONGS

John Bell spent most of his life making really bad decisions. As a former
corrections officer, he knew just how bad prison was and his odds of
getting caught. He is not, as Cynthia Tucker puts it, "collateral damage."
He is also not a sweet, lovable nonviolent offender.

Two hundred and seven hits of crack are 207 robberies, burglaries and
assaults waiting to happen. The people who smoke crack cocaine do not care
whom they hurt to get money for their addiction. Bell apparently didn't
care whom he hurt to get his money.

If Tucker is so eager to have all these "nonviolent" offenders back out on
the street, maybe she can buy them a house in her neighborhood. Bell is
right where he needs to be, along with a lot more just like him.

Mike Conner, Cartersville