Massachusetts-Melanie's Law?

Question

Certain aspects of Melanie’s law are appalling and I am absolutely fed up with it. Yes, the death of Melanie and other innocent victims is not a joke. However, OUI is not a crime committed w/ criminal or malicious intent either. The woman that killed Melanie is herself a mother and I can't imagine the negative impact this has had on her family, in addition to the guilt that she must forever live with. Does anybody really believe that she woke up one morning and decided to run over and kill a little girl? There are no winners is situations like this. I believe this law is all about anger and revenge on the side of Melanie's grandfather and MADD, while the politicians use it for votes....they are like toddlers in a sandbox where an “eye for and eye” is the only way they know how to play. I would like to believe that we live in a society that wants to do what is right regardless of political designation. This shouldn’t be the political issue it has become and now they have Question #1 riding on it. It’s abundantly clear that this is serving a larger, personal agenda. This is about getting even and although I do recognize that lives have been changed forever due to the death of loved ones maybe they should seek some other arena to grieve in….a therapist office perhaps, if still years after the fact they are out to force otherwise good people to stand in their shoes by making and enforcing laws that can destroy families the same way that the crime can. Is anybody following me here? These laws make it impossible for drunk drivers with families, children, jobs, and responsibilities to show up and do what they need to do to keep a family unit together. How is this justice? Like I said an "eye for and eye". Am I the only one in this state who has a problem with this? Please respond to: [e-mail]

I believe that together we can change this.

Answer 1

I haven't followed this political case, but I believe that any law named after a person is questionable since those pusing it will often be reacting based on emotion and grief, rather than reason.

Any good law will have safeguards, and rational provisions so that whatever action is made illegal is really the action that is the threat. I generally oppose laws that make actions illegal just because they might, in combination with other actions, have the potential to cause harm. I believe in punishing those who cause the harm, and not limiting action based purely on speculation.

That being said, the voting process has become an emotional one. People -- whether voters or legislators -- pass laws based on their gut reactions, often without any concern for the consequences or long term effects. Logic and reason have largely been abandoned in favor of making headlines.

And sadly, that's not likely to change any time soon. Good luck.

Answer 2

Drunk Driving is a choice. Maybe in your mind the punishment does not fit the crime but try thinking about from the other perspective. Somebodies life was cut short because somebody didn't feel like planning ahead or lacked the self control to drink less. Yes we all make mistakes but the severity of the outcome of this mistake along with the extremely basic and easy measures that can be put into place to avoid this mistake make it particularly egregious and worthy of a harsh punishment.