Pubdate: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 Source: Maui News, The (HI) Copyright: 2003 The Maui News Contact: http://www.mauinews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259 Author: Mark Smith OTHER ILLS PALE COMPARED TO DISINTEGRATION OF SOCIETY I can live with the cane burning, the restaurant smoking ban, the new planning director, the pet quarantine, the cruise ship industry, the state school board, the Bush presidency and the disarming of Iraq. What I cannot live with is known criminals who murder police officers, drug dealers operating in every neighborhood, alcoholics allowed to drink and drive, gamblers allowed to host cockfights on their property, residents who attack tourists, students who attack counselors and athletes who attack referees -- all because we have the most lenient state laws and judges in America which allow such anti-social behavior to go virtually unpunished. During the last election campaign, I publicly called for the death penalty for murderers, drug dealers and child rapists. We must take control of our disintegrating society or it will destroy us and our way of life. Mark Smith Wailuku - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk