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Dillon mayor’s statement over DUI lacked perspective (letter)

Dillon mayor’s statement over DUI lacked perspective

My wife and I took offense to Mayor Burns statement in Thursday’s Summit Daily.

Mayor Burns stated,”I made a terrible mistake that night. I take full responsibility for my actions. I hope people can look at me and learn that all it takes is one bad mistake and it can happen to anyone.”



This hardly qualifies as a mistake, when Mayor Burns decided to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, he knew it was wrong and dangerous. He endangered the lives of others and himself. This does not qualify as a mistake; this is immature, self-centered and irresponsible behavior, not a mistake.

Of course Mayor Burns takes full responsibility for his actions, that should go without saying, he made the decision to drive his car. I suspect that no one influenced him; he knew it was wrong and dangerous yet chose to knowingly violate the law hoping not to get “busted.” Is Mayor Burns taking full responsibility meant to, in some way, help us understand or forgive his behavior and poor judgement? It did not.



What is the lesson to be learned here? That if you knowingly violate the law there is a possibility you will get caught, not much of a lesson. I suspect that the people already know this: this so called lesson is not a lesson unless we see severe consequences for Mayor Burns behavior, even then it may not be a lesson; we expect to see consequences for irresponsible and dangerous behavior.

“It can happen to anyone.” Mayor Burns, this is very offensive to me. It cannot happen to anyone, it can only happen to those who make a conscience, immature and irresponsible decision to drink or do drugs and drive their car. For your information this does not include “anyone.”

Mayor Burns also stated this is the first time he received a DUI. We interpret this to mean this is the first time he got caught, not the first time he used poor judgement and bad behavior. Correct me if I’m wrong.

His statement did nothing in helping us understand his behavior and decision making, quite the contrary. The people are the victim of his behavior, not him.

Bob and Christine Mette

Dillon


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