on 1/22/04 3:53 PM, Peter Nelken at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > This was posted on a local forum: > > Kill a biker...get 100 days! > > > Senator Janklow of South Dakota just got 100 days in jail for driving drunk > and killing a motorcyclist. Fellow bikers, how does it feel to be a second > class citizen? > > > Peter in SF > > what sayeth the list?
I went to the AMA website and used the 'Rapid Response' feature to send the Governor and Attorney General of South Dakota an email regarding this... I think its worth the time involved and it would be good if many of us will do this. Here is my message: Sir - I learned with dismay about the 100 day sentence handed down to former Rep. Janklow for his manslaughter conviction. I am extremely disappointed with the outcome of this trial. Evidence proved that former Rep. Janklow acted with callous disregard for public safety and that he had a continuing history of flaunting speed limits and traffic regulations. A 100-day sentence is a slight slap-on-the-wrist considering his history. While it is true that former Rep. Janklow has paid a price politically for this tragedy, this price is nothing compared to the price paid by Randolph Scott. I urge you to show that laws have value and that chronic negligent ignoring of South Dakota's traffic laws has a real consequence. Please appeal the sentence and ensure that the message gets sent that no matter who you are or what your life's station, the law comes first in South Dakota. Thanks for your consideration of my request. Please compose your own message, but do send the message that assholes who drive like crazy maniacs, even if they are a former governor and US Rep., will pay a real consequence. This guy has no business getting by with this kind of wrist-slap sentence. In a high-visibility case like this, if the sentence is significant maybe the average brain-dead cager will get through their head to pay a little bit more attention to the road and bikers and less to their cell-phone and the DVD movie playing in the back seat... even if its only one, that's an improvement. The AMA plays some political games I don't necessarily agree with, but in their "Motorcyclists Matter" campaign I think they are doing something worthwhile... and we need to back them up. It might make a difference, if there are numbers behind the message. -- Jim Brokaw DoD #1415 SOHC/4 #40 AMA #716223 Santa Clara, CA _________________________________________________________ 1978 CB550K - First Bike 1978 CB750K - Big Brother 1980 CB750F - Money Pit 1994 VFR750F - Fast Bike _________________________________________________________
