Sooners should question the wisdom of Oklahoma’s SQ780
State Question 780, also known as, the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act is on the ballot November 8, 2016, for consideration by that state’s residents. Its likely few Sooners appreciate the adverse impact SQ780 will have on the safety of their children, communities and businesses should this initiative pass in November. SQ780 has two objectives 1) ease up on drug offenders and 2) ease up on property crime offenders by reducing felonies crimes to misdemeanors. At a period in Oklahoma’s history where crime has been on the decline, proponents of SQ780 want to relax the very laws that have been the basis for that reduction in crime. The threat of a felony conviction can be an effective deterrent of criminal behavior. Removing the threat removes the deterrent. SQ780 would be…