Change the laws

My grandson Rockford Plawman died Nov. 25, 2007. He was 16 years old. He went to a party, a "pharming" party. You bring all the pills you can find, throw them in a bowl with all the others, take a handful and wash them down with beer.

A dangerous game of Russian roulette. Rocky lost. Left alone by the adult in the home and left by his friends. None of his friends want to testify against the adult, and the adult conveniently disappeared until the police tracked him down.

Don't we have enough proof to prosecute, I pleaded. Yes, we have enough evidence to prosecute the adult who provided the liquor and drugs, and also opened his home to the dozens of youth — but no law on the books in Montana allows the sheriff to arrest him. Also, alcohol is not listed as a drug in Montana law.

I couldn't believe my ears. No adult would be held accountable for our grandson's death. Flathead County Sheriff's Det. Travis Bruyer has done his work, gathered the evidence and sent it to the county attorney, but that's where it stops.

It is time for social change. We need to continue to support Det. Bruyer and the alcohol enforcement team. We need more grant money, more officers and more volunteers. Many of the businesses in this valley are generous donators to this cause. Thank you.

Most of all, we need to support and pass a "social host" law that will hold adults responsible for their actions. We all need to step up to the plate and vote for officials, local and statewide, who will say to the nation, "If you provide liquor and drugs to our youth, we will prosecute you."

Put the laws on the books in Montana.

Jim and Cary Plawman

Whitefish