Families Against Mandatory Minimums

Transcription

Mandatory minimums. If you don't know what those are yet, take three minutes and watch my other video here. And then come right back. Because I'm about to tell you why I think one of the most backwards parts of our criminal justice system is about to change. In the 1980s, when the Drug War was at its peak, lawmakers were constantly trying to one-up each other with increasingly harsh penalties. It was in that hysteria that Congress passed mandatory-minimum sentencing laws for drug offenders. Because of these laws, real people have been sentenced to decades, or even life imprisonment, just for making a simple mistake — a mistake like driving a friend to a drug deal or letting their boyfriend store drugs at their house. Here are four reasons why I'm optimistic that we're soon going to see real reform when it comes to mandatory minimums. Number one: Politicians from both parties are speaking out about mandatory minimums. Republican senator Rand Paul and Democratic senator Cory Booker — two rising stars in political parties that can't seem to agree about anything. One thing that Booker and Paul do agree on: the need to reform our mandatory-minimum drug laws. In late 2013, Rand Paul tweeted at Cory Booker asking if he'd join in helping end mandatory-minimum drug-sentencing laws. Booker tweeted back, Here is to a 2014 in which we take on the failed war on drugs. Number two: The president is starting to take action. Not only are senators talking about reform, but in December 2013, President Barack Obama pardoned eight people who were sentenced under the crack-cocaine mandatory-minimum laws. When he did it, the president issued a statement saying that these people had been sentenced under an unfair system. Number three: Also in 2013, Attorney General Eric Holder unveiled designed a new policy designed to limit the use of mandatory minimums by federal prosecutors. Holder's new policy doesn't fix mandatory minimums. It's going to take an act of Congress to do that. But it's a huge first step in the right direction. Number four: People across the country are independently organizing to raise awareness about these laws. These developments didn't come from nowhere. Groups like Families Against Mandatory Minimums (or FAMM) have been working for years towards more-just sentencing laws. And with your help, we can have them. Momentum is building. That's why I'm asking you right now to click here, get involved with FAMM, and help create a more-just and rational criminal-justice system. And if you're still with me and you're interested in learning more about mandatory minimums and drug policy, you can sign up for a free week-long program with me. We'll talk one on one about these issues. You'll have the opportunity to meet others across the country who are interested in the same things that you are. Click here to sign up. And don't forget to subscribe to Learn Liberty for more videos like this one.