BigCountry Said:

"Pete, your comments are so one sided they are close to be unbeleivable and maybe little embellished(maybe). I know cops, and cops like to embellish there storiesa little. And from Southern WV, the biggest criminals were the ones with badges. I know thats small time crooked, USA.So I am little biased when I hear stories from policemen.Like I said, I know several people that has been in the slammer for growing drugs in Southern WV/Eastern Ky. They got out, some I know are some outstanding Christians that do more for the community than 90%.

You know I used to be like you. I used to think druggies, and drunks was trash, and all should be discarded. I believed this way until 3 years ago. I then helped out a friend thru AA. I attended AA with that friend for support, and met dozens of people that was able to hold a job. Got thier life together. Had a renewed sense of self control. I was impressed. They may be a small number. But you know what, they deserved a chance. And they prove it every day."

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My friend, I know dozens, if not hundredsof people that hold jobs and have their life together, it's just that few, if any, are convicted felons. Could you pleasepoint out the convicted felons that are doing more for their community than 90% of the rest of us?? I had a hard time locating the"Christian Drug Growers for Community Service" group on the internet. You may be confusing part of their sentence "Community Service" with donated "Community Service". Theydohave the same title, but are not the same thing, lol.

Since you appear to be very knowledgable about criminals and felons from your previously stated experience,I'd like to know where you got your information from so I may use it to help these poor souls in my area that commit crime after crime, after crime.We send them to rehab,rehab, and more rehab. They have their choice of a gaggleof 12 step programs, yet somehow they continue to get arrested. Someone is obviously doing something wrong here (and in the rest of the country) that you are doing right there.

BTW - you are very wrong about my thinking of thesepeople - they are people, I always treat them as such. They are someone's father, brother, mother, sister. I do care about them, I do feel sorry for them. I am saddened to see them return to jail after having been doing so well for a while.Unlike you, I knowwhat theylook like whenthe door clangs shut behind them. I've seen them crying when there was no way out of that cell. Unlike you, I have spoken to and turned away hundreds of their crying mothers at the jail door, begging to see their babies before they get sent off to "God Knows Where" in Prison. Unlike you, I see the children that do get to visit, that have to hold Dad's hand around his handcuffs. Despite all thatexperience with criminals, I've also learned to watch them like a hawk. They will hurt you if you turn your back. It doesnt matter what they there for.I have also seen firsthandthe pain these people cause to victims and their families. Non Violent offenders still have victims and cause pain. These are not the harmless people you make them out to be.

Still, No American being locked up is cause for joy but, .........It is a necessary evil. It's a shame to waste so much of life's time that way. It is, however, a path they choose for themselves. Part of what they lose when they go down that path is their respectability, their reputation, some of their freedom when they go to jail, and some of their rights.

I just dont want the criminals toto have guns, and I'm not the least bit sorry about it.

PS - Thanks for once again taking the high road with the crooked cops comment and your repeated generalizations about the police.Coming from amember of your posting history, I would expect better manners.