Last month, President Donald Trump made headlines by suggesting the death penalty for drug dealers could be a way to curb the traffic in opioids and resulting overdose fatalities.
Now, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge have joined President Trump in calling for the ultimate sentence for drug dealers, specifically those who deal in fentanyl, an opioid much stronger than morphine. In 2016, more than 20,000 deaths were ascribed to fentanyl overdose.
"I support the death penalty for people who are dealing in fentanyl," Cotton said Tuesday at a news conference in Little Rock. "They're imposing a death sentence on the young men and women in our societies."
Rutledge added she would consider working with lawmakers to change state law and allow the death penalty for fentanyl traffickers.
All of this is vague at the moment, with no concrete suggestions on how the law would be written or applied. Federal law already allows the death penalty for so-called major drug "kingpins," but so far, it hasn't been used.
We want to know what you think. Do you support the death penalty for fentanyl or other opioid dealers in some cases? Or are you against the idea?
Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, April 11. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504, or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St., Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday's paper.
Last Week: Shop or Not?
Last week's question was about retailers now offering online ordering and curbside pickup of groceries. Are you likely to use a grocery pickup option at Walmart or any other store that offers it? Or are you more likely to continue to do your own shopping in the store?
I think this is such a great idea. It would work for me since I don't enjoy shopping that much. The next step would be is to deliver right to our door. I will use this service since I do a lot of online shopping anyway. Thanks Walmart.-S.C., Texarkana, Ark.
From www.facebook.com/texarkanagazette
- I want to see what I'm buying before I buy it, but on some items I could see using it.
- I used it today for the Texas-side Walmart. I will use grocery pick up from now on it was so easy!
- No.
- Yes, at AR Walmart.
- Store pick up is the only way to go !
- What a time saver! Yes please!
- I live in Ashdown and I enjoy my trips to Walmart. I retired from there, so it is like a reunion for the employees and the customers that I come in contact with. I truly understand where online shopping would be nice for people that can not walk and get around good. So shop the best way that is right for you.
- I'll more than likely do my own shopping.
- I can see it for a quick shopping but sometimes it's refreshing to just shop!
- I used it this past Saturday! It was fantastic!