Submission: Prop. 47 would reduce harsh punishments for minor crimes

In the upcoming California election, the proposition with the greatest potential to provide positive change is Proposition 47. As the president of Bruin Libertarians, I strongly support this proposition. In today’s society, we punish many people too harshly for minor offenses, such as those listed in Proposition 47.

For example, I think it is morally reprehensible that government officials believe they have the right to lock somebody in prison for minor drug possession charges. If people want to consume drugs, they should be able to do so because they have a right to their own bodies.

However, the government jails these people so that officials can continue to have the role of moral police. This is not the government’s place. Existing laws severely punish people who have made small mistakes in their lives.

When a person commits a small offense, a felony is added to his or her record, which can make finding a job difficult. This enables what I call “government-sponsored poverty” – a system where the government creates laws that corner people into a life of poverty.

If the government got out of the way, more people would have the opportunity to be prosperous. It is important to remember that this proposition would not change the punishment for minor offenses if offenders have had a past of violent crime convictions. This ensures that those who make one-time mistakes will not be punished for what could be as long as their entire lives.

Siciliano is a fourth-year mathematics/economics student and the president of Bruin Libertarians. Fountain is a fourth-year mathematics/economics student and the vice president of Bruin Libertarians.

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