Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jun 2006
Source: Patriot Ledger, The  (MA)
Copyright: 2006 The Patriot Ledger
Contact:  http://ledger.southofboston.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1619
Author: Mary L. Smith, Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention, Inc. Hanover
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?247 (Crime Policy - United States - News)

TOUGHER DRUG LAWS NEEDED, NOT EASIER PAROLE

Illegal drug use brings with it increased rates of crime, gun
offenses, theft, violence, death by murder, as well as accidents from
"drugged driving."

Our children have the right to grow up in a drug-free society. At a
time when we should be making our laws tougher and strictly enforcing
the laws already on the books, our state senators did the opposite and
"approved an amendment allowing some drug offenders who are sentenced
to mandatory minimum prison terms to qualify for parole" (May 27/28
Patriot Ledger).

Mandatory minimum sentencing laws were put into place to take away the
power of lenient judges who were letting drug dealers/producers/users
go free in our courts.

The pro-legalization magazine, High Times, points out in their June
1995 issue that mandatory minimum laws are a powerful weapon in the
prosecution of drug dealers and drug growers. They state, "When you
grow, you face the threat of arrest every day ... The risk is even
greater in this age of mandatory minimums ... savvy gardeners have
learned to modify their crops to minimize the risk of long-term
incarceration."

This surely indicates that we should have mandatory minimum laws, not
less. Something is very wrong with the system when laws are changed to
benefit the criminal. Whatever happened to "protect the innocent"?
Why should compassion for those who choose to ignore the law override
the laws in place to protect the public?

Thanks to Sen. James Timility of Walpole and Sen. Marc Pacheco of
Taunton for their No votes against the amendment.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake