SPEAKOUT

Sentencing guidelines are faulty

I WOULD like to express my feelings about federal guidelines on drug offenders. The average prison term for drug offenders is 86 months. For someone who molests children, it is 67 months, and for manslaughter it is 26.8 months. This really scares me to think that our government would rather let someone who commits a violent crime out of prison before someone in trouble with drugs. This is ridiculous, keeping drug offenders in prison for this long. Our government has a serious problem. These guidelines are set too high for drug offenders and low for violent offenders.

Go after meth, not beer drinkers

WHY SHOULD a person be allowed to drink over two beers in Cape when the cops and the bar owners know that this person is going to get in his car and drive home? I'll tell you why. They want the money. An average DWI costs about $1,500. My limit is two beers, well within the limit. You guys are punishing me when you should be going after the real problem in Cape: the meth dealers who own Good Hope Street. Leave me alone and let me drink my two beers instead of listening to the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Get mad at meth. Get your priorities straight.

Only politicians are exempt

I HAVE mixed feelings about the death penalty. But just because you're female doesn't mean you should be exempt from hanging with the men. A crime is a crime, and you must pay -- except if you're a politician.

Parker's column is refreshing

HOW REFRESHING Kathleen Parker's column was. If you are sick of all the newspaper tabloid reporting and comments, you might really enjoy reading her column.

Don't break law over annoyances

THIS IS directed to the leadfoot who's been ticketed several times trying to outrun loud stereos. I agree it can be irritating to have someone's stereo pounding through your car windows, but this is a temporary annoyance. You don't have to take it home for dinner. Other things -- construction work, dogs on leashes, kids on bikes -- do you speed away from these too? There might be a problem here you're unaware of. I've heard it described as road rage. Counseling may help this. You can't break the law because something is annoying you. This is not the way it's done.

Coat taken at church-league game

MY SON plays basketball for the church youth league here in Cape. A couple of weeks ago, he left his starter jacket at the ball game. When we went back to get it, someone had taken it. Can you believe that someone stole a coat from a church league basketball game? If you have his coat, please do the right thing and return it to Alma Schrader School.

Too much trouble is no excuse

I WAS very disappointed to see that possession of tobacco products by minors is not going to become part of the law in Cape Girardeau due to the fact that it would be too much trouble to enforce. I don't understand how selling tobacco products can be illegal if it's not illegal for that person to possess them. We're just encouraging those people to obtain tobacco by other means, perhaps stealing them. And aren't we giving a mixed message to those young people? That would be like saying, hey, we're not going to enforce running red lights because it's too much trouble. As we can see, that seems to be leading to too many accidents in Cape Girardeau. If there were too many people stealing or robbing or mugging, would we not enforce those laws either? What about prostitution? If everybody does it, is it too much trouble to enforce that law? We don't pick and choose our laws because they're too much trouble to enforce or not to enforce. We pick and choose our laws because we want to encourage or discourage certain kinds of behavior. If you're really serious about eliminating teen smoking, then eliminate possession of smoking materials by teens. Don't keep punishing the merchants because your teens have cigarettes. Punish the teens. Then they won't have them.

No good reason for surgeon general

I SEE no reason why we even have a surgeon general. We've done very well without one for the past three years. One doctor knows as much as another. All the surgeon general does is put his name on the cigarette package and tells you what every other doctor will tell you. Maybe somebody just likes to enjoy the title.

Safehouse is big help in time of need

I WOULD like to thank the ladies at the Safehouse for Women in Cape Girardeau for their help with my two children and myself when we were in need. They helped us get a home and get established, and they have done such a wonderful job helping us. We have been out of the safehouse for a few weeks. Recently my child was in an accident and in the hospital. Even though I was no longer a resident of the shelter, they came and sat by my side at the hospital and helped me and provided me with transportation or whatever I needed. I am just so thankful that we have this service here in Cape Girardeau. The ladies there are just wonderful. God bless them all.

Proud of trophy-winning car stereo

TO THE person who was complaining about the car stereos. He just can't appreciate the fine art of music. I've got a nice stereo in my car. I think he's just jealous. My car stereo has won many trophies, and I'll be danged if I'm going to turn my stereo down just so other people can't complain. They're just jealous.

Need name for old part of Hopper Road

WE NEED a Speak Out contest to decide the name of the old Hopper Road. As Cape decides to build a new Hopper Road that will be straighter, we need to find a name for the old Hopper Road. I suggest Old Hop, or maybe Ohop. Maybe we could call it Crooked Hop. What are you suggestions?

No caller ID for Speak Out

I WAS just wondering: Does the Southeast Missourian have caller ID on Speak Out? Please answer.

REPLY. No.

Goose hunters suffer in S. Illinois

AFTER 42 years of goose hunting in Southern Illinois, this is my last year. Southern Illinois is no longer the goose-hunting capital. The last 10 years have been bad, the last five a disaster. They can blame the weather, but I remember hunting in long-sleeve shirts and getting my limit. I think we sportsmen have paid for too many reserves that are full of food, and the geese never get down here. I think the federal boys would rather see a disease go through the flock and kill them than to let the sportsmen have a chance. What a financial disaster for my friends and our neighbors of Southern Illinois who depend on the hunters for their extra money to live.

Comparing meth and child-abuse sentences

I WOULD like to make a comment of the recent sentencing of some people using meth and getting caught manufacturing it and compare it with child abuse. Why is it if a person is caught manufacturing meth, they can get from eight to 10 years, maybe even up to 14, but when a person has been caught beating his daughter so her eyes are swollen shut, they only receive seven years? To me it seemed like child abuse is a lot worse than the methamphetamine is.

Just pay back Social Security funds

PRESIDENT Clinton said we have to start now to overhaul Social Security. And he said after a year of study, he will confer with the House and Senate leaders and begin to write actual legislation. Yes, after a year of study. Then Gene Sperling, director of Clinton's National Economic Council, said at a White House briefing that no specifics would be advanced by the administration until after the November midterm elections. Why can't they just pay back what they took out of the Social Security fund? Then Social Security will be in good shape for years to come.