It is time the State of Michigan stop warehousing Lawrence K. Drum, prisoner number 222000. We state this knowing (double-negative aside) no politician has never not been reelected for being ‘tough on criminals.?
We ask you to use your extraordinary powers as governor to commutate Mr. Drum in an expeditious manner, not to save state taxpayers $30,000 a year in prison costs — but because Mr. Drum has served his time. Mr. Drum, as reported in two Lake Orion Review features, is still a prisoner of Michigan’s draconian old drug laws. Laws that were revamped twice since Mr. Drum was incarcerated. Laws that were intended to get the drug kingpins — not low level users like Mr. Drum. Laws that tied judges? hands into giving disproportionately harsh sentences, instead of individual circumstance, case evidence and testimony.
Gov. Granholm, Mr. Drum is not a threat to society. He has a loving family, home and job offers waiting for him. Mr. Drum made a mistake and has paid for it. Read the court records, his was a first time, nonviolent offense. He was a minor player. The sting operation that netted Mr. Drum was to catch another, the dealer, who has since been paroled.
Gov. Granholm, please read and take to heart letters in support of Larry Drum. These letters are not only from his mother, his sons, family and friends — read the letter in support of Mr. Drum you received from former Michigan Governor William Milliken. Call Mr. Milliken at his Traverse City office and ask his opinion.
Governor Granholm, use your powers. Grant clemency to Lawrence Drum. Send him home for the holidays and give his 92-year-old mother a Christmas gift to treasure. dpr