In 2001, 537 Tennes-seans were killed in alcohol-related crashes. Tens of thousands more were injured. Of those killed, two that I know of were Union City residents. Of those injured, three I know of were also Union City residents. In 2002, alcohol related crashes killed a teenager in Obion County and critically injured several teenagers in Weakley County. Also, in Weakley County, a young adult died of alcohol poisoning, and another young, intoxicated adult stole a car and rampaged through the city of Martin, damaging buildings and the vehicles of several firefighters. All of these deaths, injuries and property damages were 100 percent preventable, making them all more tragic. It’s time for the citizens of Obion and Weakley Counties to GET MADD ALL OVER AGAIN! Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is not opposed to legal age drinking; however, MADD is opposed to driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances and underage drinking. In the last twenty years, impaired driving laws reduced alcohol-related traffic fatalities by almost 40 percent; however, in 2000, fatalities rose again. We can wait until we, or someone we love, becomes the victim of a drunken driver, or we can act now. MADD-Tennessee has introduced life-saving legislation this year, and we are grateful to the brave and visionary senators and representatives who are sponsoring these bills. The lifesaving legislation up for vote in 2003 includes: Administrative License Revocation (Sen. McNally and Rep. Newton); Keg Registration (McNally/Newton); Mandatory Blood Alcohol Content Testing and Reporting (Sens. Bryson and Herron and Rep. Casada); Open Container (Sen. Bryson and Rep. S. Lynn); and Social Host (Sen. McNally and Rep. M. Turner). We need to do our part. Please call, e-mail, write and visit these elected representatives and senators! Let them know that you expect their vote on legislation to stop drunken driving and senseless death! Let them know that we are tired of losing more that 500 Tennesseans each year. We are tired of the tens of thousands more who are injured. And we, as taxpayers, are tired of paying the yearly $2.5 billion impaired driving crashes costs us. For more information on this legislation, please visit www.maddtn.org, www.madd.org, or call (731) 479-9370, (800) 544-6233. Carol Mann is the coordinator of MADD for Obion/Weakley counties.