Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 Source: Charlotte Sun Herald (FL) Copyright: 2004 Sun Coast Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.sun-herald.com/newsch.htm Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1708 Author: Michelle Brisendine WE MUST DO BETTER JOB FIGHTING DRUGS Editor, Having children in the Punta Gorda school district so close to drug dealers causes alarm. With the recent statistics on drug use among our teens, Charlotte County being the highest in Florida, why are these people still out on the streets? The law is intended to protect us yet hinders the possibility to arrest known drug dealers in Punta Gorda. Charlotte Avenue falls time and time again to drug sales along with other streets just blocks away from our schools. Even the small-time dealers have a huge impact on our futures. I realize that a drug addict will find their fix, but why in a wealthy, small community is it acceptable to make it so easy? Allowing this is affecting our poverty level, welfare cases and the number of children being raised by single parents which in turn increases crime due to lack of time, patience and energy, and sets an example that crime is acceptable as long as you are educated in the way you conduct your business. Is there an answer? Is there anything a concerned parent can do to fight drugs in our "safe" community? Let's take the risk! Michelle Brisendine Punta Gorda - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin