THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 10, 1995 TAG: 9505100005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Three cheers to the Alabama state-prison system for reinstating chain gangs (news, May 3).
It's about time these drains on taxpayers give something back to the society at which they thumbed their noses while committing their crimes.
These people are prisoners, and as such they have given up most of their inalienable rights already.
The instant they chose to steal, rape, murder, embezzle, sell drugs, assault and/or molest, they should also have realized they gave up any rights they had as free individuals.
The last line of the article stated that the ACLU plans to sue on behalf of these ``chain gangers,'' as their civil rights are being violated. It stands to reason they would not be in this position had they first not violated someone else's civil rights.
The chain gangs are being reserved for second-time visitors to the prison system. If their first visit to the cable-ready, fitness-room establishment was not enough of a deterrent to keep them from committing a second crime (or series of crimes), maybe some time spent being chained together cleaning up America's roadways will help.
KATHY H. ECOBICHON
Virginia Beach, May 5, 1995 by CNB