We are reminded, every week, of just how precious life is. We observe the news and learn about loss of life, and we are all deeply saddened when a life is lost. Some of us understand this tragedy more than others, and we all feel for the family and friends. Many of us pray for the surviving family, as they are certainly devastated. The most traumatic loss is the loss of a child. Once again, this week we are reminded of the dangers of drunk drivers. Though this story received little attention by the media; on 2-25-08 a sixteen-year-old girl lost her life, south of Dallas, to another drunk driver. This drunk driver was an illegal immigrant who ran into the sixteen-year-old girl in a head on collision.

This beautiful young girl's life was taken by someone so selfish that he lacks the common sense to not drink and drive. Whether he was in this country legally is not the point, while it does complicate the incident and the anger of the surviving family. The point is that this young girl is one of 14,000 Americans that will lose their lives this year at the hands of drunk drivers. Young Kindle Smith is now free of all pain, in Heaven, but her family is destined to feel the pain of loss for the rest of their lives. It will be weeks, or even months, before they can grasp the immensity of their loss and pain. The driver was slightly injured, and only he knows the depth of his sorrow. It cannot be a fraction of the pain young Kindle's family is experiencing.

I apologize for bringing you all a sad story. However, it is reality and it will continue to happen until we all stand together and demand action from our legislature. Texas is one of the most dangerous states in the country for driving, due to the huge
number of drunk drivers. There will be bills before our legislature in the spring of 2009, including some that I am also working on. It is time for everyone to band together and demands that our Senate and House pass strict drunk driving legislation. It is clear that human beings do not have the self-respect or respect for others to monitor their own drinking habits, so this problem has to be addressed through strict laws.

Arizona just passed a new law bringing the legally drunk measure to 0.05 rather than 0.08. Our laws need to be very tough on first time drunk driving offenses. We all need to be honest in saying that when a person is caught, it is NOT their first time to drink and drive. Alcohol manufacturers lobby against strict laws due to concerns about profits. Americans consume more alcohol, in dollars, than any other consumable category, more than Soda, Milk, or Water. Who will help me to stop the insanity? Who will go to Austin with me in May of 2009 and testify in the public hearings at our Senate and House, asking our legislature to pass common sense laws to protect our youth and citizens and NOT the alcohol manufacturer's bank accounts. Please email me at tim@brittenylindt.com