Pubdate: Wed, 21 Sep 2005
Source: Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA)
Copyright: 2005 New England Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.berkshireeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/897
Author:  Christopher Louison
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Sawin

SCHOOL-ZONE VETERAN SPEAKS OUT

Over the past few months, I've been reading all the letters bashing 
District Attorney David Capeless for doing what he was elected to do. 
I can't imagine that he would have become our DA if, during his 
campaign, he pledged to ignore the laws of Massachusetts and be 
lenient toward drug dealers. The real fault lies with those who made 
the law and took the power away from the judges, and with us citizens 
who let this law stand.

I commend the DA for doing his job, even though deep down he might 
know that sending a first-time offender away for two years is 
excessive. I believe anyone caught selling drugs should serve time, 
but how much time should be up to a judge. It's time to give judges 
back their power and change the law, not to try to change the minds 
of those responsible for enforcing it. I understand all the anger 
about this law because 16 years ago I was the first-time offender 
caught with marijuana in a school zone. After two years of trials and 
petitions, I was sentenced to two years in jail by a judge who said 
her hands were tied. I feel sorry for all the parents of these kids 
because what I did to my family was far worse than what happened to 
me. Everyone should work to reform the law so that judges may be free 
to consider each individual case.

CHRISTOPHER LOUISON

Housatonic 
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