DRUG SENTENCES

Mandatory Sentences Are Necessary To Help Rid Nation Of Horrible Scourge

In response to two recent letters to the editor, the
writers asked for compassion for drug offenders with first-time
convictions. These letters lack understanding. The consequences of
drug addiction are terrorizing. With every day that passes, more and
more teen-agers try drugs.

Many of the drugs are amazingly addictive. Some experts will tell you
that some people can become addicted to crack cocaine after using it
only one time. The addiction to a drug such as crack subverts a
child's mind. It confounds, confuses and literally destroys the users.
They will steal and trade everything they can to obtain a rush that
can never be duplicated.

Families of addicted teens are helpless to find solutions to aid them.
Families can lose their entire life savings on drug rehabilitation,
and many lose all hope of ever being happy again because there is no
closure to addiction to powerful drugs. OxyContin has killed several
teens in the past year alone, causing several families' lives to be
tormented with pain forever.

Adults who distribute highly addictive substances to minors should be
given mandatory sentences. And judges should not have the ability to
accept plea bargains. I often read about suspended sentences in the
local newspapers. Judges should be ashamed of themselves.

In this election year, will any of the gubernatorial candidates commit
to ridding our state of this form of terrorism by doing whatever it
takes? Or will they simply continue the attitude of "that only happens
to other people's kids, not mine"? The person who stands up to defend
children gets my vote.

I suggest capital punishment for adults who distribute highly
addictive substances to minors. The punishment should equal the crime.
Federal government has declared war on drugs, but where are the
soldiers? Compassion belongs to the kids.

Eddie Crocker