Drinking and driving is not a 'right'

Editor,

In your Word on the Street section last week, you asked the question, "What do you think of the new open container ban?"

I was appalled to read that one woman responded by saying, "I don't think it is right. They are taking away all our rights."

Number one, lady, no one is taking away all of your rights. That statement is not true. You still have the right to vote, to own property, to use our roads and highways, to be protected by our police and firefighters, to shop in all our stores, to check out books at the library, etc. etc. etc.

And, yes, I will work till there's no longer a breath in my body to take away your "right" to drink while driving. That is not your right — it is saying you can kill innocent people by driving impaired.

The NTSB and MADD have come out with statistics proving that one's ability to function is impaired after only one drink, such as your ability to stop in time if a child runs in front of your car. There were over 1,000 innocent people killed last year in the United States by drunk drivers. Don't be telling me that you have the "right" to drink and drive.

Another woman answered your question by saying, "I think it is a little carried away. They are trying to legislate morality."

A little carried away? Every state with the exception of Montana and one other have had an open container ban for 40 years. Give me a break. And, it would not be considered "moral" to avoid drinking and driving. It would be considered your responsibility not to kill or maim innocent people. And yes, sometimes our responsibilities have to be legislated.

How sad it is that the slaughter continues on our highways (the highest in Montana of any state), and yet some of our citizens still hold these dangerous beliefs. May God help us all.

Claire Adrienne

Polson