WRONG MESSAGE

Upset and not happy.

These few words do not even come close to expressing my feelings on the
sentence handed down to Mr. Young. I was not at the trial and I didn't hear
all the evidence but give us a break.

What's wrong with this picture?

Scenario: A man is arrested for selling illegal drugs. He pleads guilty to
the charges. He admits to selling at least 70 pills to his cousin (for
someone else of course).

Result: A community corrections sentence.

This has to be a slap in the face to all law enforcement officers who are
trying to keep drugs off the street and out of our schools.

Then Mr. Young complains that the articles in the paper make him out to
look like someone who was selling drugs to kids. I guess it does. But, can
he tell us where the drugs ended up that he sold to his cousin?

Now he has the possibility of getting his job back with the United States
Postal Service. How is he going to drive his route without his drivers
license? How can he be allowed to go back to the job he was working while
selling the drugs on his route?

I am not only concerned with the message this sends to other drug dealers,
but what about the message this conveys to the police and drug enforcement
officers who risk their lives in the effort to rid our area of drugs?

Mr. Young deserves more than just a "house arrest" for his actions. It is
my conservative opinion that he needs to serve time in prison, as do all
who are convicted of selling illegal drugs.

Bobby Gramling

Gadsden