3-Strike Stories: L. Moore
I am writing regarding the three strikes law. From my understanding there is a
possibility that the law can be amended by a two/3rd vote of the California State
Legislature, or by a statewide initiative. I also understand that law was made for a good
reason. I personally believe this is a good way to keep dangerous felons off the streets,
as well as preventing others from becoming felons by letting them know such actions will
not ve tolerated in our communities. However, as with any other law this too has its good
and bad points. Which beings me to the reason why I'm
condoning the actions of those, who break the law. I do however feel that they should by
punished according to the severity of their actions, not just the fact that they've committed a crime.
For an example person who has already accumulated two strikes and is arrested a third
time for murder. This would be a justified reason for issuing the maximum sentence. In
this case the person is a threat, and should be detained for the safety of others. On the
other hand there is the hand full of people who for whatever reason commit crimes that are
still classified as felonies, but is much less ever than others. For instance, a person
who has two previous convictions for using illegal substances, if this person goes to
trial a third time for the same thing, they could face the same punishment as a killer. In
my opinion this constitutes a cruel and unusual punishment. Do to the fact that they may
be harming themselves, but they are not a threat to anyone else. That doesn't excuse the fact that they've broken the law, but its seems unconstitutional for
someone too loose their life because of an addiction. In cases such as this I think we
should be trying to help these people as much as possible, instead of just pushing them to
the side and pretending these problems don't
exists. Because that will not make them go away, if anything will make matters worse.
Besides who do you think would be more dangerous, an ex-drug addict, or they're whose paid a fair dept. to society. Or ones who's spent the last 25 years in jail, and is release
only to find they can't get a decent job to
support themselves so they feel forced to do whatever they have to survive. If we can
limit the number of people who have to face this problem, I think it would make life a lot
easier for all of us.
The government may not give too much thought to things like this because they don't live the same life as regular citizens do. But I
don't believe we should have to pay for
avoidably mistaken (make by other people) because of where we live. Let's face the facts. An ex-convict is one hundred times
more likely to move into a middle-class neighborhood like mine, than to move next door to
the senator. So in closing all I ask is that my opinion be taken into consideration when
the final decision is made. Thank you for your time and effort.
Please send questions or comments to facts@mediaone.net.
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Date last modified: 6/19/98.