Enough is Enough! I never thought I would have to start a letter with those words, however these words are on a large number of Americans minds and on the tips of their tongues due to the sorry state of our communities today!
I have to ask our politicians an age-old question that was highlighted in the early to middle 1980’s , “When did it become permissible for citizens to pick and choose what laws and rules they want to follow and ignore?” That is not the way our legal system is supposed to work nor is it the American Way! The perception amongst a large number of Americans is that crime is out of control! Crime does pay, and the system will not do anything to rectify this! We see day after day stories of police officers being shot and killed by a suspect that has had numerous, prior and violent arrests, who were simply afforded bail or pre-trial releases with no supervision at all! THIS NEEDS TO END!
Our criminal justice system, similar to many facets of life , goes through certain cycles as time goes by and society changes. Over the course of the last several years our duly elected politicians, whether elected members of state and federal legislative bodies or elected district or state prosecuting attorneys, the pervasive perception is that many jurisdictions and facets of our government are weak on crime! Laws are laws!
A large number of our current politicians and their perceptions of crime and due process presents itself like a ship without a rudder in a strong wind destined for disaster! We need to stay the course and to follow the Rule of Law and to enforce the various statutes that are codified in our written section of laws more commonly known as Statutory Law! Politics and getting re-elected by constituents should not be a factor in how, why and when to enforce the law! The protection and overall safety of our communities should be the priority!
John Joseph Albinger