posted March 19, 2014 07:25 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
The dealers should receive harsher treatment.

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posted March 19, 2014 07:38 PM            

Thank God the laws that some of you are suggesting were not (and will probably never be) in place while he was doing that...although he never got caught doing so, or he would probably only now be getting out of prison 20 years later.

Incidentally, since that time he has actually risked his own life to save the lives of others (who would have died had he not), has not done any sort of drug in years, and rarely even drinks alcohol.

We have a child. He is a loving husband and father, and an exceptionally intelligent and dedicated employee where he works, which requires a high level of intelligence and integrity.

So yeah. I don't agree with anything that anyone is saying here regarding harsher punishments for dealers OR users.

People turn their lives around.

When they go to prison, it is significantly less likely that they will ever do so.

And for the record, I don't give a damn about what anyone thinks about my husband's past, or my past. If you want to judge, judge away.

For every finger you point, three will be pointing right back at you.

posted March 19, 2014 07:47 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by DeepFreeze:
Violets - I understand your point and where your passions come from on this matter. I have somewhat similar stories in my family. Not exactly the same if course. Everyone is different.

In the case of the man in the first post though. He was given multiple chances. Correct? So has shown no desire to straighten himself out.
But I see your point.

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posted March 19, 2014 08:02 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Violets:
Thank you, DF. I very sincerely appreciate you saying that.

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Yw

I think it's very admirable that your husband turned it around. I'm just trying to quit drinking pop (soda) and it's kicking my butt.
LOL

But maybe it's a scare tactic with harsh punishments?
Plus, does it vary by drug classification and quantity?

posted March 19, 2014 08:10 PM            

Had I gone to prison for possession, I doubt I would have turned my life around and gone on to help people the way that I have.
I sought out drug dealers. They did not once seek me out, ever.

I do not believe in prison for these crimes for these reasons.

In addition to the fact that, after going to 12 Step meetings for many years, I have met at least hundreds of people like my husband and myself who have turned their lives around. Prison makes that harder for people.

But that's just my experience.
I now drink occasionally like most people, but we are now law abiding citizens in every sense of the word. I don't smoke pot, although it's legal where I live. I simply do not care to, and I have a child to look after.

posted March 19, 2014 08:27 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Barbiegirl19:
I'm proud and very happy for you Violets. I'm happy that the both of you turned your lives around that's truly a huge blessing. It could've gone in a million different directions. I actually really like you despite the way it looks here lol. I commend you for sharing something so personal. I agree that people change, but it's pretty clear that this Timothy guy didn't. He was very aware of the consequences and of his actions. He didn't care so why should we have to? I have many family members who were drug dealers and addicts and some of them have been caught and some not. Some of them have changed, while others haven't. At the end of the day it's totally up to that person to change their life, Timonthy didn't so now he has no one to blame but himself.

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posted March 19, 2014 08:40 PM            

I should have kicked him in the balls and ran.

posted March 19, 2014 08:41 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Violets:
So are you! It's amazing what we don't know about each other sometimes until something causes us to open up.
I commend you as well. I've worked in detox facilities, and I know that alcohol isn't any easier for people to stop using than other drugs.

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posted March 19, 2014 08:46 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Violets:
He turned it around, and I did as well. I know that I've mentioned that I was addicted to heroin for 10 years of my life, but I'm not sure how many people are actually aware of that here. In real life, very few people know that about me, and they certainly wouldn't guess it.

Had I gone to prison for possession, I doubt I would have turned my life around and gone on to help people the way that I have.
I sought out drug dealers. They did not once seek me out, ever.

I do not believe in prison for these crimes for these reasons.

In addition to the fact that, after going to 12 Step meetings for many years, I have met at least hundreds of people like my husband and myself who have turned their lives around. Prison makes that harder for people.

But that's just my experience.
I now drink occasionally like most people, but we are now law abiding citizens in every sense of the word. I don't smoke pot, although it's legal where I live. I simply do not care to, and I have a child to look after.

At the most, I drive mildly over the speed limit, in the fast lane dedicated for people who are going faster than the rest of traffic. Period.

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posted March 19, 2014 08:47 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
The dealers should receive harsher treatment.

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posted March 19, 2014 08:48 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Barbiegirl19:
💙 I'm sorry if anything I said hurt or offended you that was never ever my intention. God bless you and your family. (I'm not overly religious and if you aren't either I'm sorry if that offends you)

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Thanks, and no I'm not offended by the word God, haha. I pray to God on a regular basis. And likewise.

DF--yeah, it sounds like you've seen a lot of the worst that it can bring out in people. So have I, but I've also seen a ton of very mellow, sensitive people who are undoubtedly hurting their loved ones emotionally, but otherwise harm no one but themselves.

I've seen both ends of the spectrum, honestly. Some of it is completely awful, and some of it is just tragic and sad...and then sometimes, people turn it around and try to redeem themselves.

posted March 19, 2014 08:49 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:

Exactly. Once you are charged with a felony and locked up your life is pretty much over and your chances of ever being a productive citizen are slim to none. The sad thing about all these people getting harsh sentences is the thought that most of them would probably have quit drugs at some point and left it at that. I think in most cases people just go through a wild phase and experiment with alcohol and different drugs. Some people experiment with drugs and have the good luck of never getting caught with drugs and some people dont have that luck and end up getting caught and have their worlds turned upside down.

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posted March 19, 2014 08:49 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Violets:
As far as your belief that capital punishment should be a valid punishment for drug activity, are you suggesting that anyone caught possessing drugs should receive capital punishment?

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Indeed.

And I'm here to stay, and you can move elsewhere if you like. I will use all possible influence to ensure drug use gets eradicated.

posted March 19, 2014 08:59 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:

Indeed.

And I'm here to stay, and you can move elsewhere if you like. I will use all possible influence to ensure drug use gets eradicated.

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I'm here to stay as well, and I'll be pushing right back against you, in terms of making the punishments less severe at the very least. And so will many others, as has been made crystal clear by the legalization of marijuana in two states.

At any rate, it's your beloved corporations that you speak so fondly of who are profiting from people staying ALIVE in prison and providing cheap labor, so I'm afraid your plan isn't going to work.

Anyway, what you are saying, in essence, to all of the members here who have stated that they have family members incarcerated for drug possession, is that you believe their family members should die because of that.

I find that unacceptable.
Spew your hatred and asinine beliefs elsewhere.

You will unfortunately also have the ACLU to contend with. Bummer.

posted March 19, 2014 09:00 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:
They all should be thrown in together and kept there. The premeditated murders shouldn't be given prison sentences. Criminals commit crimes. Honest law abdng citizens don't and should have the benefit of being protected from criminals.

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Like bankers?
They can rot on death row as well as far as I'm concerned. I would be happy if they did.

posted March 19, 2014 09:01 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Violets:
Thanks, and no I'm not offended by the word God, haha. I pray to God on a regular basis. And likewise.

DP--yeah, it sounds like you've seen a lot of the worst that it can bring out in people. So have I, but I've also seen a ton of very mellow, sensitive people who are undoubtedly hurting their loved ones emotionally, but otherwise harm no one but themselves.

I've seen both ends of the spectrum, honestly. Some of it is completely awful, and some of it is just tragic and sad...and then sometimes, people turn it around and try to redeem themselves.

I suppose it's a tossup, really.

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posted March 19, 2014 09:03 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Barbiegirl19:
Well obviously those offenders proved they couldn't. You aren't given 3 strikes for nothing AG. If they were serious they would'nt had done what they did.

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posted March 19, 2014 09:04 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by DeepFreeze:
Yeah. I have three family members that smoke very regularly and I don't give a crap EXCEPT... It seems like when there is a family function and those three are together they get together and ignore others to an extent.
Pi$$ess me off, you better believe. But I guess it's just minor in the big scheme of things.
Barbie and I had this discussion a few days ago and she disagrees with my view but we've both just let it go. It's not worth getting worked up over.
I keep silent about it because I know it would do more harm than good anyway.

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Yeah, my brother in-law smokes pot and struggles from time to time with harder stuff. I don't want him around when he's struggling with the hard stuff (I actually insist that if my husband wants to hang out with him that they go elsewhere), but it's also annoying to be around him when he's been smoking pot. My husband gets so mad at him because he's being so irresponsible with his family (doesn't show up to pick up his daughter when he says he's going to, etc.) that he doesn't even bother with it half the time.