Dear Editor: Law in our town

Dear Editor,

I’m not one to complain, because it is what it is, but what is being done about the drug problem in our normally peaceful little town? At least on the surface, Whitehall has been a thriving little community in the past and even to this day enjoys the reputation for being a quiet, but strong and lively little community. Soon after moving here, coming up on 11 years ago, I heard someone say that our peaceful little town had been a “drug hub” since the 50s. Apparently, we are positioned almost perfectly, being right off the interstate and near the middle of the bottom of the Butte, Bozeman, Helena triangle. Also, we’re not too far from Missoula.

Much of the criminal activity of late might be blamed on our younger generation’s lack of things to do besides create disturbances around town, but there is definitely a darker side to our little burg, one which speaks of a deeper problem than just bored teenagers!

The drug problem here in town, while I realize that it’s only a problem if we make it one, should make it clear that the issue runs much deeper. Whether the users have turned to drugs to try to forget their pain and the pushers (dealers) have turned to their chosen business because it’s lucrative & they thought they had no other choice, whatever one may think about their choices, they have chosen to thumb their nose at the law. No matter what one may think of said Law, whether it should be or shouldn’t (it is what it is), the Law IS the law and if they disregard and disrespect it through their choices, they should expect to receive a swift and just punishment. Although it often seems to us that punishment is not swift enough or even just sometimes, we may take what cold comfort lays in the fact that their sin will surely find them out. In other words, Karma is a B!+$&!

Charles Haddon Shank

Whitehall, Montana