To the editor:

Ohio voters this fall will decide State Issue 1 on Nov. 6, 2108, a proposed Ohio Constitutional amendment that is being bankrolled by billionaires, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and George Soros’ Open Society Policy Center. Why are they interested in this Constitutional Amendment? This was passed in California and law enforcement cannot even arrest people there until they have their third drug possession. Another very troubling aspect of Issue 1 is that possession of enough fentanyl to kill 10,000 (less than 20 grams) people would be a misdemeanor. This amount of powdered fentanyl would not even cover the nail on your little finger. In criminal law, a misdemeanor is a lesser type of crime that is usually punished by a monetary fine and/or a short jail sentence of less than one year.

Convert felony 4 and felony 5 drug possession and drug use crimes to misdemeanors with no jail time for first and second offenses committed within a 24-month period.

Prohibit judges from sending people to prison if they violate probation with something other than a new crime.

The President of the Ohio State Bar Association, Robin Weaver, leads an organization with over 20,000 lawyers and judges among its membership, is speaking out against Issue 1. If Issue 1 passes, it would result in several changes to the state constitution. Among them, reducing drug possession crimes to misdemeanors and prohibiting judges from imposing jail time for a first or second offense in a two year period. Weaver says this would be a mistake. And then when unintended consequences arise, it takes another Constitutional Amendment to change it, which is lengthy and difficult, and nearly impossible.

Know the position of your candidates on Issue 1.

Opposing Issue 1 to keep Ohio safe:

Mike DeWine candidate for Ohio Governor

Jim Renacci candidate for US Senate

Jim Jordan incumbent for US House 4th District

Nino Vitale incumbent for Ohio Representative 85th District

Susan Manchester candidate for Ohio Representative 84th District

Julie Ehemann incumbent Shelby County Commissioner

Issue One will make our streets less safe. This is not the time to get soft on drug crime.

Vote “No” on Issue 1.

H. R. Pence

Sidney