Pubdate: Mon, 26 Feb 2007
Source: Burlington Free Press (VT)
Copyright: 2007 Burlington Free Press
Contact: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/632

DEATH PENALTY URGED FOR DRUG DEALERS

BARRE - Mayor Thomas Lauzon says Vermont is losing the war on drugs, 
and that the solutions are to legalize marijuana and impose the death 
penalty on dealers of crack cocaine and heroin.

"I'm sure everyone will distance themselves from me," Lauzon said 
Saturday. "but if anyone tells you we're winning the war on drugs, 
they're lying."

Of hard drug dealers, he asked "What social value do they have? They 
are dealing crack and heroin to young people, knowing full well well 
what the effects will be. What purpose do they serve in society other 
than to destroy lives, to destroy families?"

Lauzon said he hopes to host a statewide forum in late April on 
Vermont's problems with illegal drugs.

Vermont does not have the death penalty for any crime. Republican 
Gov. Jim Douglas has said he might favor the death penalty in some 
circumstances, but has stopped short of proposing one, in part 
because it's unlikely the Democrat-controlled Legislature would agree.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman