Pubdate: Sat, 18 Mar 2006
Source: Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA)
Email:  http://www.berkshireeagle.com/
Address: PO Box 1171, Pittsfield, MA 01202
Fax: (413) 499-3419
Copyright: 2006 New England Newspapers, Inc.)
Author: Katherine  Osborn Dinicola
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06.n318.a02.html

BLAME KIDS, NOT DISTRICT ATTORNEY

To the Editor of THE EAGLE:

In regard to Laurie Sawin's letter of March 11 ("Give kids, families 
their lives back"), it is amazing to me how Ms. Sawin's version of 
the drug deals that  took place in Great Barrington differs so 
dramatically from that of the district attorney's office.

Ms. Sawin tries to downplay the role of these teenagers as if their 
offense was as minor as stealing a candy bar from the local 
convenience store. I believe  that, according to the records in some 
of these cases, scales were used to measure the drugs before the drug 
deals were made. Use of scales to measure out  drugs for a drug deal 
is something that serious drug dealers do, not something  done by a 
"first time" petty marijuana seller. Just because they have only been 
caught selling drugs one time does not mean it is the first time they 
have ever  sold drugs.

These kids knew exactly what they were doing and they got caught. And 
now they are crying for sympathy from the public. How dare they. If 
we just slap them on the wrist like their parents want, what is next? 
Do we do the same for the first-time driver who gets stopped for 
driving under the influence who is just the tiniest bit over the 
legal limit? Why not, they're not a real drunk. They were only just a 
little drunk.

To blame the D.A. for the turmoil that this has caused these families 
is utterly ridiculous! These kids and their families are responsible 
for their own actions. You can't blame the D.A. for upholding the law 
just because it directly  affects your family in a way that you don't 
like. This is going to haunt them for the rest of their lives. Too 
bad. It should. Maybe this will be a wake-up call for all the other 
"petty" marijuana sellers out there.

Ms. Sawin can spin this any way she wants, but the bottom line is 
that they broke the law, were caught in the act and now must face the 
consequences.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman