A letter from prison

[Scarstruck]

I have recently been introduced to a group, a forum of people that want to get another message out on how drugs and alcohol are killing and destroying our society.

Well I have a message that one and all had better take notice. It?s not the gun that kills, it?s the person that pulls the trigger. So let?s get rid of all the guns, let?s take one more ?right? away from the American, in the land of the free. Well, I have another idea that makes just about as much sense. I say we cut off every man, woman and child?s thumb, index and middle fingers, which would make it close to impossible to draw, cock, aim and fire most weapons before the intended victim could escape.

I know for a fact what?s killing our society is the control which has been put in place by the ?Law?. Of course we need police and controls of certain kinds of predatory people. But the main problem I?ve had during my 35 years of some type of drug usage is getting caught and the cost. Drugs and alcohol are out there and available to whoever wants them and has the money to buy them. I should say, isn?t it obvious to you stupid morons it?s all a circle. If drugs were freely distributed to whoever chose to take them, then they or maybe I, would not stick a gun in your face to take your money to buy my drugs from the dealer on the corner. And because it is so illegal and the penalties are getting stiffer I have to rob more people, break into more cars and burglarize more houses to afford my drugs. Because the stiffer the sentence, the more the drugs cost and the more I have to steal, rob and pilfer to get my drugs.

And I do not give a shit if you have platoons of goose stepping drug prevention patrols that execute you on the spot for possession of any type of drug and let the bodies rot in the street, people will still use drugs and people will still sell them; only at a higher price so I have to rob 20 people instead of 5 to get high. So you, the (Ha, Ha) free American that chooses not to use will have the shit taxed out of you to fund all of this control.

If a person so chooses to consume drugs, and for whatever psychological or emotional deficit that causes their desire to do so, maybe they are just bored with their natural state of conscientiousness and want to enhance their state of mind and forget a problem or heighten their sexual prowess. Because I will tell you, if you have not had sex while under the influence of met amphetamines (crank) then you have not experienced true sex in its most intense form. And you can shove that word ?love? you know where. Chemical enhancement will keep her coming back, yes, your wife also, to that dirty hotel with that filthy dope fiend to do the dirty deed, because this is how she really wants it.

I can tell you I have never committed a crime when I had a pocket full of dope. So say if I so desired and wanted some heroin or coke; I go to the drug store and say ?Give me an eighth ounce of the drug? and I?m charged just the pennies it?s really worth, and I go about my business. Whatever, to forget that problem or have great sex or just to enhance my consciousness. I get high and I don?t worry about the police busting my door down. I haven?t had to rob anybody. I?m not arrested and haven?t cost innocent people money in the form of taxes to incarcerate me and make me a social outcast, branded for life as a felon. There are no dealers on the street because there is no profit. The prisons are not full and busting at the seams just because some asshole wants to get elected to some public office. So he uses the ol? ?war on drugs?, it?s killing our kids? platform to convince the average moron that inhabits this country that believes all the bullshit that perverts like Gary Conditt propagate.

Take the profit out of drugs ?for both sides?, the people that sell it and the one?s who enforce the drug laws, and the drug problem would not be a problem. But the moron says ?well, everybody would be on drugs?. You dip shit, everybody that wants to be on drugs is on them already, but at YOUR expense.

Any person in the United States, in any town, city, wherever that so chose to get high, allowing they had the cost, the money, could get and consume most any drug within one hour. The only thing that may stop you is not being able to afford it. But if you could afford it, would you, probably not. But those that choose to, will, and at your expense. Solve the drug problem, make it cheap and available. Then the forces, the police, the controller could focus on real problems like child molesters, like people who scam our elders. If drugs were free or cheap and easily accessible, what crime would there be? Why would people rob, steal or scam? The only reason they do it is to afford their drug habit.

Dear Reader, think! Open your mind to the trickery of the forces that beat the drum and sound the bugle on the war on drugs. It?s a scam! In Columbia, where the coke comes from, is there a problem with cocaine addiction, No. It?s the same in every country that pays no attention to drugs. You can make a mountain out of any mole hill.

Well, I?ve about spent my wad for today. I?m incarcerated, but I?ve gotta do my daily exercises. Cause when I get out in June I need to be in shape so I can grab you by the throat and take your money. It?s expensive to support a habit. You know, these are just words of one that?s trying to put out a message; a true message.

I don?t intend to rob anybody or use any drugs.

Please respond,

*******

[Scarstruck]

:eek:  :eek:  :eek:

/QUOTE   Well, I?ve about spent my wad for today. I?m incarcerated, but I?ve gotta do my daily exercises. Cause when I get out in June I need to be in shape so I can grab you by the throat and take your money. It?s expensive to support a habit /QUOTE

[Scarstruck]

But this time around, I?ll touch more on the everyday life of your average maximum security Texas prison.  Maybe give a few of those youngsters out there something to think about.

 

In some of your more notorious prisons, we?ve got a little something for the new guys we like to cal ?Ho checkin?, which pretty much serves to separate the man from the soon-to-be- women.  When a new boot walks on the block for the first time- and you can always recognize ?em from the big wide eyes and terrified look on their faces.  He?ll be approached by a few members of whichever gangs turn it is to get first dibs.  They?ll usually give him a chance right up front: you can fight, you can pay for protection, or you can earn your keep other ways; which can vary from prostitution to washing clothes and cleaning houses.  When given a choice, a lot of ?em choose one of the latter two.  But for those who choose to fight, the most common method of Ho checkin is what they call the ?back door?.  That?s where 5 or 6 guys line up and take turns (back door) kicken? your ass one at a time.  If you break down and quit fighting before the last one, then you become the property of whichever gang it is that broke you.

 

And they?ll pretty much do whatever they want with you; rape you, sell you, keep you for monetary purposes, etc.  Sometimes you won?t be so lucky as to fade the back door and they?ll all just jump on you at once and attempt to beat you into submission.  But regardless of the methods, if you stand your ground and refuse to break, then you?ll get your respect?eventually.  But don?t think it?s over just because you made it through the first round, because there?s liable to be another gang/family that doesn?t feel you were properly put to the test.  In that case, they?ll usually give you a day or two to heal from the first ass whoopin?.  Then run you through the wringer again.  Though that isn?t always the case.  It mostly depends on you carry yourself, because the bottom line is, if somebody senses fear or weakness in you, they?re gonna try to break you.  And that?ll go on and on until you either break or everybody?s satisfied that you?re a solid individual.

 

And I know that racism is ?politically incorrect? on the outside, but once you walk through that razor wire you?d better get used to it real quick, because it?s an everyday fact of life.  If you weren?t racist when you came in, there?s a damn good chance you will be when you leave.  In here, everything is divided by race, from the gangs to the tables and benches you sit at.  And you?d better make damn sure you sit on the right bench, because sitting on the wrong one is grounds to get your head split open.  But if you didn?t stand your ground during the Ho checkin I told you about earlier, don?t even worry about sitting on a bench because you sit on the floor?or wherever your man tells you to sit.

 

Race and gang riots are a pretty common thing on the max farms.  If it?s a gang issue, then you mind your own business.  But if it?s a racial issue, every able bodied man is expected to get out there and fight for his people, whoever they may be.  If you don?t, you?re a marked man.

 

Depending on where the riot kicks off, the weapons of choice are shanks and refried bean cans stuffed in a sock, both of which do some pretty serious damage.  After a good 5-10 minutes of going at it (or longer for the bigger riots), the goon squad shows up in full riot gear and shoots canisters of tear gas onto the block.  After a few lung fulls of that, everybody usually lays ti down.  For those who don?t, the goon squad comes through with their shields and billy clubs and beats ?em down.  Then they?ll secure everybody?s hands behind their back.  If anybody?s dead or seriously injured, they?ll call in a helicopter and life-flight them to the nearest hospital.  For those left behind, yu can expect at least 30 days on lock-down, where you stay on your cell 24-7 and eat your meals out of paper sacks (usually peanut butter sandwiches).  Once the administration feels that everything has cooled down, they?ll let everybody back up.  But unless there was some sort of peace agreement made between the two groups at war, you can pretty much expect another riot to kick off as soon as the lock-down is over- repeat process.  But after a few months of eating peanut butter, three times a day, everybody?s usually more than willing to get along for a little while.  But that doesn?t ever last too long.  There?s too many ignorant SOB?s running around here for it to.  So if you?re headed down that road and on your way in, you might as well start doing your push-ups.  You?re gonna need ?em...

[Scarstruck]

A LETTER FROM A PRISON GUARD


As I write you, I sit in a tower watching and waiting above one of the largest prisons in the state of Alabama.

As I was sitting, I felt a need to write a letter to tell parents and young adult some of the things that I do and see every day in my chosen profession, as a correctional officer.

I see many sorrows, few real honest smiles and less joy. The sorrows come by many things; one person may have missed an approved visit that he may have worked hard to get. The reason may have been that the inmate broke a rule and the visit was denied or postponed as a punishment, or "his people" didn't come for some reason, or no reason at all.

Many sorrows come by a death in the family or perhaps an illness, and the inmate cannot get in touch with anyone to find out what has happened, or what is being done about the situation. I have heard an inmate not much older than myself, preparing funeral arrangements for one of his parents from prison. I caught myself trying to grasp how he must have felt, and I could not imagine the pain or sorrow. Many times the only thing that they can do is to sit and wait, for hours-sometimes days. I have watched grown men break down and cry from frustration over things you and I don't ever stop to think about,
such as a busy signal on a telephone.

Many of us consider no mail as a blessing, sometimes; however, many inmates consider "junk mail" as a blessing because it was sent to them alone. Many receive no mail at all, ever. Some inmates don't know where their family is, or how to contact them, sons, daughters, wives or grandchildren. No one.

Some people will carry a sorrow to their grave, because they will never see "the other side of the fence" as long as they live. Some make the best of the situation. Can you pause for a moment to think what it would be like to never watch TV alone again, or be able to watch what you wanted, or never go fishing or hunting-to hear the sound of the fall leaves rustle under you feet as you walk through the woods with you girl or your wife? If that doesn't shake you, then how about never being able to hold your husband or wife when ever you want to, to pull them close to you and tell them that you love them, never being able to share their company again, or to make love again, as long as you both shall live. You won't be able to enjoy the children as you should, or be able to watch them grow up, to watch him play football, or to watch her go out on her first date, and to wait up until she is safely home. You won't be able to see your grand children grow up, after your children get married, at the wedding you missed, because you were sitting in prison serving a sentence of "life without parole" or will sit somewhere on death row.  Where some people fearing, some praying for their time to come, for the execution of their sentence.

Many of us work in a noisy environment-we will stand the pressures and the stresses of the day, to race home for the comfort of our home and to see our wife and children, waiting with open arms to greet us when we arrive.

Imagine living in an environment where the noise seldom stops and the frustrations always runs high and you have very little, in any, choice in what you eat, wear, do or go. You do the same thing day in, and day out, day after day, year after year, with little change. With no one to turn to or no one to lean on, in a place where friends are near non existent and close relationships are even more rare. Debts can cost you all that you have to you name, it can cost you your body, even your life.

My fellow officers and I come to work each day and see the toll it takes on a man to be placed behind a fence and bars, to be stripped of the most private and personal act of being a human being, such as openly caring for someone, or to cry in front of other people, because it may be taken as a weakness.  You and I take our freedom for granted. I can promise you that an inmate will treasure the few moments that they get to spend on an eight hour pass with their wife and children. That is the very few inmates that are allowed to take advantage of this privilege.

Many inmates have only a letter or a postcard to hold on to, to keep them going. I have sat for hours and talked with men and their problems, such as their wife has left them, and she has custody of the children, or their parole officer is delaying a parole over a simple matter such as paper work, or a medical examination. Or the officer didn't get to it, he was on two weeks of vacation.

I have sat and looked at pictures of families, a wife, of children and pets and many other things. I have heard stories and the tales about the people in the pictures and have felt compassion for the both of them. I have even cried and prayed for these men when I was alone by my self.

I have often wondered if I had the right to shoot someone that would attempt to escape. With in my reach I have a 12 gage shotgun loaded with .00 buckshot. If the need were to arise that I should have to use it, well, it would certainly maim or kill. I have found an answer. It is in my bible. It tells me that I ma to obey all authority: the State of Alabama is my authority. It tells me that I am to stop an inmate if he attempts to escape, to use the force necessary to accomplish this, which includes deadly force. If it weren't for God's approval the government wouldn't exist.

My job is hard. I must see the sorrows and fears of these men and have compassion as a Christian. As an officer, I must at times do things which seem to show little or no mercy.

Parents and young adults, please listen to what I have to tell you. Teach your children well, to do what is right, teach them how to tell the difference between right and wrong. Teach them that is never too late to come back to our living savior, but most of all teach them how to serve him day to day. Because if you don't, well, I have told you some of the things that I see and witness each day that I walk through a gate , for my Lord and state.

I will leave you with this bible verse; it goes,

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he shall not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:7



Yours truly,


Gary ***

[Anonymous]

wow -

  INTERESTNG letters.  The inmate's being so trapped in his own habits... and the Guard's being so DEEP.

   thanks for posting these.

[Scarstruck]

bump