Full of potential, Curtis will never be able to complete the rest of his journey in life because it was inconvenient  for the drunk who killed him to make arrangements home, or be in any way responsible in the situation. According to The Holland Sentinel, the driver even admitted to a deputy he had twenty drinks! This moment must call our community to action, and subsequently, our representation in Lansing.

Unfortunately, Curtis is one of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives because of drunk driving. The US Government says that between 15,000 and 17,000 people die a year, about 300 a week. Surely Americans wouldn't be complacent if foreign terrorists were offing 300 Americans a week! Why should our next door neighbors be any different?

Choosing to disobey the law in such a way that recklessly endangers the public is unacceptable. Any time drunk driving could be THE time injury or death occurs. It is time for the Michigan legislature to set minimum sentence laws for all levels of drunk driving that will actually closer match the life ending capability of the offense.

Currently, offender's face a combination of a first offense fine of $200-$500, some community service, 30 day license suspension, and the possibility of driver's responsibility fees of $2,000. It takes a third offense for a felony to kick in, and the loss of your license for at least five years.

Though legislators will say Michigan already has tough drunk driving laws, that is not an excuse. Tell that to the heartbroken families who have suffered because of drunk driving. We can, and must do better in making it clear drunk driving is dangerous and intolerable.

After a first offense, an ignition device should be placed on the offender's vehicle that checks the driver's blood-alcohol content before the car will start. It can also check continually while driving to avoid system abuse. This is the law in Illinois, where the computer system tracking drunk drivers ignition devices is administered by the Secretary of State's office. This allows for more accountability from the drunk driver, without having to take the offender's license away, preventing transportation to work and possibly for a family. Fees handed down to drunk drivers pay for the system to function. New Mexico's 2005 ignition lock law is credited with a double digit decrease in drunk driving

A third offense should result in the loss of one's license forever, as well as impounding of one's vehicles. Three strikes, you're out so to speak. Also, a minimum prison sentence of five years.

Now is the time to have the debate, just who do we want incarcerated in our costly prison system? I can think of a lot of people in the court section of the paper who get more time for far pettier crimes than many drunk drivers currently do.

I am a strong believer in a culture of life, and this issue is just as much a part of it as abortion's monumental toll, war, whatever the issue may be. Everything we can do to make life better and to better value life works toward that effort.

Email your State Senator and Representative about this issue. Also, email State Senator Wayne Kuipers at senwkuipers@senate.michigan.gov or call him at 1-877-kuipers.
He is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the perfect position to start sending a message to would be drunk drivers. Secretary of State candidates also need to share their view on this issue with the public.

Let those who have the power to save lives know that drunk driving needs serious sentencing to closer
match the devastation it can cause.