THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505110010
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
I was delighted to read about the return of the chain gangs to the state of Alabama. I am not surprised that the American Civil Liberties Union claims the program ``will only worsen Alabama's image as being backward and out of step with the rest of the nation'' and plans to sue. It seems to me that what's really backward and out of step here is this kind of liberal-minded drivel that the ACLU regularly spouts.
True, you probably cannot chain five dogs by the side of the road without the humane society saying or doing something about it. However, are those dogs repeat offenders with at least two trips to prison? Are these dogs serving 15 years for theft or seven years for selling cocaine? Did these dogs make a conscious decision to rob, assault, rape, molest?
Once a dog does ``go bad,'' do we put it in an institution and feed it; ensure it a warm, dry bed; a roof over its head; cable television; a gym in which to build and develop its body? Do we provide it with the means to achieve a college education at the taxpayers' expense? No, we put the dog down.
Animals should be humiliated. They should be publicly embarrassed. Jail should be made as uncomfortable, inconvenient and, most of all, as unpleasant as possible. I have no sympathy for criminals. They took the chance; they lost; they should pay the price.
DIANNE DEHART
Virginia Beach, May 4, 1995 by CNB