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For immediate release:
Kudos to Gov. Rounds on his veto of HB 1147 and an open letter to the
people of Yankton County, one of the few counties in this state designated
by our federal government as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
The United States has been losing a devastating war on drugs—thousands upon thousands of lives
senselessly taken—and now we see our local politicians and administrators making silly arguments about
how good such a misguided bill like HB 1147 would be for our youth.
We must be aware that these politicians are trying to change the definition of a key word here, but don’t
be fooled when they talk about our children making “mistakes.”
A crime by any other name is still a crime.
Kids need second chances, but what sort of a chance are we giving them by slapping their wrists,
winking, and tossing them right back into the environment that caused them to make these “mistakes” in
the first place? It is apparent these legislators and administrators have no clue what is really happening
on the ground—kids who get into trouble are seen as heroes by their peers. It’s cool and exciting to get
busted…and wink, wink…no real consequences will come their way.
Maybe if we would remove the temptation by actually going after the scum that traffics drugs in this town,
we could keep our children from committing these “mistakes” in the first place. Unfortunately, history
proves that this community has no stomach for that.
But there is another approach….
Let us truly show these children some compassion by putting them on the right track. When they commit
these “mistakes,” let us show them the error of their ways.
Our hospitals and prisons are full of destroyed bodies and minds…because nobody cared, nobody
intervened. If the hours from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. are dangerous for troubled children, let us give them
something truly productive to do. If a child gets busted on a drug offense, and they want to get back into
extracurricular activities, let them earn it—not just through wishy-washy at-risk programs, but with solid
community service lasting at least one year—real work. If our boosters, our administrators, and our
legislators don’t see the value in that, let us consider their true motives.
Our under-funded domestic-violence shelters, drug-treatment centers, federal prison, state and local
hospitals could certainly use the help, and our troubled young people could get a wonderful and rewarding
life lesson firsthand.
But it’s not just the damaged living that our troubled youth could learn something from—lest we forget—
there is community-service time that could be spent at our local cemeteries too. It’s not touchdowns, but
maybe there is a little more to life than just that.
Thank you for your consideration,
Marc Merrill
Author, the homecoming
Kudos to Gov. Rounds on his veto of HB 1147 and an open letter to the
people of Yankton County, one of the few counties in this state designated
by our federal government as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
The United States has been losing a devastating war on drugs—thousands upon thousands of lives
senselessly taken—and now we see our local politicians and administrators making silly arguments about
how good such a misguided bill like HB 1147 would be for our youth.
We must be aware that these politicians are trying to change the definition of a key word here, but don’t
be fooled when they talk about our children making “mistakes.”
A crime by any other name is still a crime.
Kids need second chances, but what sort of a chance are we giving them by slapping their wrists,
winking, and tossing them right back into the environment that caused them to make these “mistakes” in
the first place? It is apparent these legislators and administrators have no clue what is really happening
on the ground—kids who get into trouble are seen as heroes by their peers. It’s cool and exciting to get
busted…and wink, wink…no real consequences will come their way.
Maybe if we would remove the temptation by actually going after the scum that traffics drugs in this town,
we could keep our children from committing these “mistakes” in the first place. Unfortunately, history
proves that this community has no stomach for that.
But there is another approach….
Let us truly show these children some compassion by putting them on the right track. When they commit
these “mistakes,” let us show them the error of their ways.
Our hospitals and prisons are full of destroyed bodies and minds…because nobody cared, nobody
intervened. If the hours from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. are dangerous for troubled children, let us give them
something truly productive to do. If a child gets busted on a drug offense, and they want to get back into
extracurricular activities, let them earn it—not just through wishy-washy at-risk programs, but with solid
community service lasting at least one year—real work. If our boosters, our administrators, and our
legislators don’t see the value in that, let us consider their true motives.
Our under-funded domestic-violence shelters, drug-treatment centers, federal prison, state and local
hospitals could certainly use the help, and our troubled young people could get a wonderful and rewarding
life lesson firsthand.
But it’s not just the damaged living that our troubled youth could learn something from—lest we forget—
there is community-service time that could be spent at our local cemeteries too. It’s not touchdowns, but
maybe there is a little more to life than just that.
Thank you for your consideration,
Marc Merrill
Author, the homecoming
UPDATE:
The Governor's Veto was overridden.
In addition, our lawmakers also passed a bill slicing in half
sentences for most alcohol-related offenses. What a wonderful
message to send our children! Drink and Drive -- you'll get off
with just a slap on the wrist. What is going on?! Is this how the
folks in Pierre are planning for future population control, by
thinning out the flock when they get to those turbulent teen years?!
How could these fools possibly consider themselves pro-life?!
Does their hypocrisy have any bounds?!
I guess our politicians have no problem with the blood that is
soon going to be on their hands.
The Governor's Veto was overridden.
In addition, our lawmakers also passed a bill slicing in half
sentences for most alcohol-related offenses. What a wonderful
message to send our children! Drink and Drive -- you'll get off
with just a slap on the wrist. What is going on?! Is this how the
folks in Pierre are planning for future population control, by
thinning out the flock when they get to those turbulent teen years?!
How could these fools possibly consider themselves pro-life?!
Does their hypocrisy have any bounds?!
I guess our politicians have no problem with the blood that is
soon going to be on their hands.
UPDATE:
Sadly, the number of teen drinking and driving deaths doubled in South Dakota
between 2005 and 2006. Way to go, members of our South Dakota legislature!
Sadly, the number of teen drinking and driving deaths doubled in South Dakota
between 2005 and 2006. Way to go, members of our South Dakota legislature!