We constantly see in the news where a driver, high on marijuana or under the influence of alcohol, hits a pedestrian or another car, killing someone. They are charged with driving under the influence or vehicular homicide. They get a few years in prison and then are free to live their lives.

But the person they killed is dead.

So if a person kills another person with a knife, baseball bat or a gun, should we call it weaponry homicide and let them off after a few years in prison? I think not. A person is dead and any of the above weapons were used irresponsibly, dangerously or intentionally to harm or kill a person.

We are too soft on those who kill someone due to uncontrolled use of the weapon of choice. A vehicle is just as dangerous a weapon as anything else. It may not be premeditated murder, but it is just as deadly.

It is time to toughen the laws of drunken and drugged driving, and we need to press our legislators to toughen the consequences.

Larry Brickman, Bellevue