Good points all.  But do "less harsh" sentencing, then, make our communities safer?  That would be the notion you are implying.  I just don't see it.  Maybe we should just enforce the laws as they are written, w/ sentences that are appropriate if one is found to be guilty of a crime.  The legislators went through a lot of tax money to write the HRS, it seems counterintuitive that anyone would oppose an enhancement to those laws and sentences.  I hope the opposition isn't based on "well...we didn't come up with it ourselves so we have to oppose it" kinda thinking.  That wouldn't happen in our state....would it?