Here is the letter one Stasher sent to Rep. Tommy Benton of Georgia regarding his remarks that we should resort to Singapore-style caning of marijuana users and execution of marijuana dealers:
Representative Benton,
I am concerned with a comment you recently made to a constituent about your opposition to legalizing marijuana. If correct, while you state that you oppose the legalization of marijuana, you were quoted as adding that you “think we should go to caning for people caught using and maybe execute dealers.”
As a resident of Georgia for 24 years, I find your statement extremely troubling. I would hope that as a representative of this great state, you would understand that the Constitution of the United States explicitly forbids “Cruel and Unusual Punishment”, which surely caning and execution for marijuana dealing would be considered as such. Furthermore, in Singapore, a country whose drug laws you referenced, anybody found in the locale of drug activity is guilty until proven innocent, which is in stark contrast to the Constitutional protection afforded to American citizens which makes this country so great. It is my hope that you will reconsider and recant such an un-American statement.
I support marijuana legalization, mainly because my conservative values refuse the idea that the government of the United States or the government of Georgia should claim sovereignty over any citizen’s mind or body. I support individual freedom and minimal government intervention into people’s personal lives, even though such freedom allows my fellow Georgians to reach conclusions I do not agree with and make choices that I would not make myself.
As a proud Republican of this state, I would hope that you too could analyze your conservative values and renew your support for individual freedom and small government by supporting marijuana legalization.
Respectfully,
J___ C___
DeKalb County
Representative Benton’s thoughtful and considered response?
no can do!!!!!
Tommy Benton
HD31
I’m not certain if Rep. Benton “no can do!!!!!” applies to recanting the caning statement, analyzing his conservative values, or supporting marijuana legalization. I do know that in addition to not understanding the Constitution, Rep. Benton doesn’t understand basic English composition.
Let kick this fool the hell out of office!
this worthless SOB doesn’t deserve a seat on any legislative body in the land
What can even be said to such a profoundly foolish thing? I want to say something advocating violence against him, but I’d rather not sink to his sub-serpentine level; the high and mighty Tommy Benton demonstrating a lack of understanding for the constitution, any sense of scope for a punishment fitting a crime and intimidation towards constituents.
If someone respects those they represent so little, as to bully them in such a manner, he should not be in office.
Do not take the following as sinking to his level, but I have no other way to put it.
I think when one takes public office and takes others lives in their hands via the power they wield, their own lives become forfeit. When one abuses such power, they deserve swift death, having already forfeited their lives. I think the country would run a great deal more according to its primary documents if politicians had to worry about an exploding collar on their neck going off if a single thing they said or did violated the constitutions. Politicians should be lower, WAY lower, than citizens, more akin to slaves than rulers.
The fear of God should be put into this sorry idiot’s heart, that at any time, anywhere, his constituents might rise up, drag him out of office, flay the flesh off of his accursed bones and scatter them to the winds.
We run this country, not you, you trash, you ignorant damned trash.
Go die in a fire.
When is he coming up or Re-election? Maybe that slogan would be great for his opposition to use and that he is for Unjust and sever punishment for minor infractions that he does not care for American Rights or personal freedoms. Maybe he should move to Singapore if he likes it so much.
Mr. Benton should check himself… I would guess he just signed his political resignation. I can’t believe their are still people as ignorant as he is that are still alive. He probably still believes the south will rise again
Ha! What a great slogan.
What a poor example of a elected representative. Sounds like a recall of this loser is in order if he responds to all of his constituants as he did here.
I’m in favor of an old fashioned mob. Grab your pitchforks and torches, time for a tar and featherin’. Burn him at the stake. But I’m sure those punishments for his comments would be too extreme. Unfortunately this is the status quo in GA and its representatives. Fear tactics work great for old southern republicans who GA reps. know are the ones at the polls. Its all a numbers game.
‘Yes you Cannabis!!’ (Support legalization)
“stupid is as stupid does”
Re-elect Tommy Benton? “No can do…”