Saturday, April 13, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
All too often, we are faced with the fact that elected officials think they are the ones who should draft the laws that are needed to protect our citizens, and that's too bad.
Before any law is drafted, as a general rule, committees are formed. The Legislature receives public input, as was done in the "truth-in-sentencing law." The hearings are held and, as in most cases, the lawmakers ignore the testimony from the experts and draft foolish laws that will not work, mostly because they have very little experience with regard to the problem.
The biggest laugh of all is when the law they passed bounces back on them, they still try to cover their babushkas. They say things like "It's fighting crime, and I never said fighting crime would be free."
I wonder if the same senator would take the time to look at the records of the people who came forward to testify and told him that what he planned on doing would not work. Moreover, if he would admit his mistake and repeal the dumb law, people might start respecting his judgment.
The answer, now and always, is employment to slow down the prison population in our state and others. Until we as a people realize that our income is balanced with the high cost of goods and services in America, we will never control crime.
Joseph O. Maviglia
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