Pubdate: Sun, 09 Jun 2002 Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette (WI) Copyright: 2002 Green Bay Press-Gazette Contact: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/879 Note: This is in response to a May 29 Forum letter by S.L. Lucas from Abrams (not in the archive). WISCONSIN IS KNOWN AS THE LOCK-UP STATE I am a taxpayer. The truth-in-sentencing law does need to be changed back to the old law. Has Lucas or anyone she loves ever been sentenced to prison? Obviously not. Wisconsin is no longer known as the Dairy State. We are now known as the lock-up state. I think people are crazy to move here. We are so worried about locking people up we don't have the money to help the homeless or the poor. Did Lucas ever think that if we didn't have so many people locked up, the state would have more money to put toward the homeless/poor instead of paying other states to hold our inmates? If Lucas wants the free dental, medical, food, etc., go to prison. I'm sure any one of the inmates would trade places with her. The poor and homeless can get free attorneys also, but they don't always do all they can, so it's not exactly an advantage. Lucas has the right to her opinion, but she is no one to say who can or can' t write to the paper. This is a free country, where everyone has rights - even those who make mistakes. We already took away their right to vote. But if we needed them to defend our country, I bet Lucas would think they were good enough. There is only person who has the authority to judge people - and it is NOT S.L. Lucas. Kerrie Brantley - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart