Letters illustrate two views of law

On Tuesday, two interesting letters were published. One was about the benefits of legalizing marijuana (Gatewood Galbraith); one was about the horrors of abortion (Tom Keelin).

While seemingly unrelated, these letters are perfect illustrations of the two main attitudes towards law.

Mr. Keelin thinks if something is illegal, people won’t do it. Mr. Galbraith thinks if something is illegal, people so inclined will do it anyway.

Mr. Keelin thinks he has the right to make other people's decisions. Mr. Galbraith thinks people can make decisions for themselves.

Mr. Keelin doesn’t have a solution to the problem he perceives. Mr. Galbraith offers an alternative to the current situation.

I’m firmly in Mr. Galbraith's camp. If something is illegal, someone will go to prison for it. The prisoners serving time for non-violent, drug-related offenses have been separated from their families and put into an environment where they’ll have to become violent people to survive.

If women who abort their children are convicted of a crime, the same thing will happen to them. Mr. Keelin claims we have the blood of innocent children on our hands. What about the blood of innocent women? A single mother of three young children cannot afford to raise another, and domestic adoptions are hard to obtain.

Would you throw a disadvantaged girl into prison for trying to stay off welfare? What about women in Third World countries that end up mangled and infertile from coat hanger abortions (if they don't die)? Are they criminals? How long should they have to recover before they are sent to prison?

Perhaps Obama has the blood of infants on his hands, but those who oppose abortion have the blood of women on their hands.

The choices you make are your business. Don't presume to legislate my life.

Jessica Hurst, Ashland



Photo of Boyd woman sought

I am trying to find someone who may have a picture of a Georgia Neece Click. She lived on Straight Creek in Boyd Conty. Her parents were George and Elizabeth Neece, and she was marrried to Elmer J. Click. She died in 1942.

If anyone has any pictures of her, I would love to hear from them. Contact me at cloud_eight@hotmail.com

Laurie Moore, Ashland