Imagine this: Your lovely child has grown up following all the rule and laws, is a shining example and a model student, helpful in every way to the family and society, has great prospects for the future and then SUDDENLY….an erratic and fast moving car plows down your child in front of your home, in front of your eyes.
And guess what the driver is taken to court and all he gets is his wrist slapped by the justices (with involuntary manslaughter that sometimes carries only a probation).
Think this is not possible?
This happens every single day – by DRUNK DRIVERS. In fact there are 1000s of repeat offenders who casually Drink and Drive and all our society and lawmakers do is turn a blind eye. If you are a concerned parent or grandparent you should be enraged that we don’t have strict anti-drinking laws or condemn such behavior.
This doesn’t look like a big problem? Here are the stats on Texas
· Drunk driving deaths per 100,000: 5
· Total DUI arrests: 85,436 (2nd highest)
· Beer consumption per capita: 34.4 gallons (9th highest)
· Percent of minors consuming alcohol: 22.4% (14th lowest)
· Percent of binge drinkers: 18.9% (19th highest)
Nearly 1,300 people in Texas died in drunk driving accidents in 2012, more than in any other state. In 2012, 3,610 young adults under 21 were arrested for violating the state’s underage drinking laws, among the most in America. In 2012, 169 people under the age of 21 died in drunk driving accidents in Texas, more than in any other state. Overall, Texas law enforcement officers arrested 85,436 people for drunk driving that year, more than in any other state except for California.
Should the irreponsible drunk get a free pass from our justice system? Shouldn’t they be punished with the maximum sentence?
If you care, write to your lawmaker.