Who has destroyed more lives, torn apart more families, left more children without parents, than the despicable sellers of illegal drugs? Has the fight been given up so that we can take care of other countries instead of our own? How can anyone think that there is any protection at our borders when smuggled drugs can be bought in any city? Pick a town in Texas, especially near the Mexican border. They are overrun, but the local newspapers are filled with sports events while those same towns have jails filled with the ruined lives of users and their invisible broken families.
It cannot be denied that America has the largest per capita prison population in the world, and no one will dispute the primary reason for that--crimes committed by users to obtain drugs. The actual dealers incarcerated are few in comparison to the population there for other drug-related crimes, and the majority of those dealers are small-time. Why? How are the big guys so protected that they can still control our country with their carnaging product? Where is the outcry for this amoral crime? The voices are too few.
Now some states are limiting licenses to anyone with a record. That may sound fair to some, it may even have had a sound principle behind it. But it was not thoroughly considered from every aspect. These people, mostly men, will eventually come out of prison. An example: a young man with an electrical license had it taken away even though his employer vouched for him in writing—saying that he would only be doing work on road signs and never in anyone’s home. If that man is not already back in prison, he will be. His chances of finding employment are too slim. Funds have been drastically cut for educating those behind bars. The usual loud voices protested the “free” education. After all, it hasn’t yet directly affected them. Why should they care if the millions on parole and probation are homeless?
Because they may be the next victim of crime from an unemployable ex-con.