Pubdate: Tue, 23 May 2006
Source: Star-News (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Keith Thompson

EDITOR: Thank you for reporting the events of my daughter Blaire's 
death. As parents of an addict, we were forced to learn about the 
drug culture: the obsession, the dealers, Narcotics Anonymous, rehab, 
lying and stealing, jail, death and heartbreak.

. Since our society does not see the need to strengthen the criminal 
laws against drug dealers, we are forced to enhance the civil 
remedies. Talk about irony - it's OK to have to be convicted three 
times for selling drugs before jail time is imposed?

My blood boils each time I read the Superior Court roundup in your 
newspaper and see that the penalty for second offense drug selling is 
an additional 12 months of probation. Is the difference between 
selling drugs and shooting at someone so different? Both can kill.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom