Dear Editor, I hope those who received the campaign flier from Republican Tommy Wright describing his drug policy proposal can read it with a critical eye. After Governor Gilmore announced the SABRE plan (Substance- Abuse Reduction Effort) late last month he received a letter from our national Drug Czar, General Barry McCaffery dated Sept. 29. The letter called the Gilmore/Wright plan “hastily developed” and “ill conceived.” Mcaffrey criticized the mandatory minimum sentencing proposed by the Gilmore administration, explaining that in states with these sentencing schemes, charges sometimes have not been brought in an effort to avoid inflexible punishment. When they are pursued, low level offenders get long sentences while true “kingpins” get off light for turning others in. In short the plan will not work and in many cases may prevent the kind of drug enforcement Tommy Wright says he wants. [continues 66 words]
Mcaffrey criticized the mandatory minimum sentencing proposed by the Gilmore administration, explaining that in states with these sentencing schemes, charges sometimes have not been brought in an effort to avoid inflexible punishment. When they are pursued, low level offenders get long sentences while true “kingpins” get off light for turning others in. In short the plan will not work and in many cases may prevent the kind of drug enforcement Tommy Wright says he wants. General McCaffery says he fears politicizing the drug issue but Wright and Gilmore are playing politics. They want to win the coming election more than they truly care about getting rid of drugs. Hopefully, voters in Southside Virginia will see through the partisan trickery and select a better candidate. Sincerely, Lennice Werth Rt3 Box 692 Crewe, VA 23930 (804)645-7838 [end]
