Rod Grams: “May 15 is opening day for fishing season in Minnesota. Catch and release may work well for Minnesotans out on the lake…”

“May 15 is opening day for fishing season in Minnesota. Catch and release may work well for Minnesotans out on the lake, but the catch and release of drug criminals does not work for Minnesotans and all Americans who are scared to leave their homes, safely walk their streets, or confidently send their children to school. The so-called reform of the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines, H.R. 3979, typifies the superficial nature of the crime bill. This bill allows Federal judges to retroactively drop mandatory penalties for individuals who sell, possess, or import drugs if five criteria apply. The supporters of this measure just do not get it. Drugs are dangerous; drugs kill; drugs leads to gang wars. When someone snorts cocaine, they might as well be putting a .45 up their nose and pulling the trigger. Drug criminals are culpable. Simply put, drug criminals are killing our youth. By letting an estimated 16,000 drug offenders off the hook, what kind of message are we sending to criminals and youth? For years we have tried to steer kids away from drugs by drilling the expression, 'Just Say No' into their heads. Now along comes a crime bill that stomps all over those efforts. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this measure and listen to the demands of all our constituents by supporting tough, substantive crime reform.”