Pubdate: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 Source: Herald Chronicle, The (TN) Copyright: The Herald Chronicle 2002 Contact: 906 Dinah Shore Blvd Winchester, TN 37398 Website: http://www.heraldchronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2033 Author: Rita Wilbourn Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) TO THE EDITOR: What has happened to our system? Please, don't get me wrong, we need to get this meth off our streets. But we need the hard criminals off our streets. I would rather rob or murder someone, than to use meth. I would get less time. That's right, if you're hooked on meth then you will face ten years to life. But for murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery, child molesting and child pornography you will get a pat on the back. A person raped his daughter and went free. A person committed attempted murder, only got ten years. A person molested his daughter, got six years community service. A person killed and buried a newborn baby, got six years probation. A person with several child pornography charges got five years. But for meth people are getting ten years to life, even if you are never caught with meth. That's right, all it takes is for someone to say your name and they come after you, then you're going to prison for ten years to life. Our system is letting the hard criminals out of prison, so they will have room for meth users. Is this justice? To me alcohol and drugs are like cancer. It is a disease. They need help and to be treated. Would you put someone in prison for cancer? In prison a drug addict can get all the drugs they want. That's not helping them. If our system would get the people with drug and alcohol disease help then they could fix the roads, clean up the roads, build court houses and build new jails for the hard criminals then the taxpayers and the community would not have to pay for this stuff. Everyone could save money and the people with these diseases could get help and help the community. Just think of the money each county would save. Because right now the system is saying that they don't care about your life, my life, and our children's lives. All they care about is this meth disease. I have joined FAMM. It stands for "Families Against Mandatory Drug Sentences." I'm trying to get a committee started so we can get these laws changed so we can get the people who need help help and have room in the prisons for murderers, attempted murderers, rapists, robbers, child molesters, child pornographers and all other hard criminals. I'm including FAMM's address and phone number. Please join FAMM and let's show the system that we want justice back, that we want to go back to when the sentence fit the crime. Let's give justice and peace of mind. Let's show the system that our lives mean more than this meth disease. Ask yourself if it was your throat that was cut, would you feel that person should only get ten years?...a lot less than a drug addict. No? Well I don't agree with the system either. But it will happen every time unless we stand together, stand up for justice, FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums), 1612 K St., N.W. Suite 1400, Washington, D.C., 20006, phone 202-822-6700. Or you can contact me for a membership form at P.O. Box 435, Whitwell, TN 37397. RITA WILBOURN Whitwell - --- MAP posted-by: Beth