The liquor and lottery issues are not just moral and economic issues, although they are both. These are more family issues and safety issues.

If approved both of these will negatively impact the families of your county. I believe the following facts will help us see some of these issues more clearly and hopefully cause us to think about someone other than ourselves as we vote on Nov. 5.

In a 1998-99 study by the Criminal Justice Institute at the University of Arkansas, a comparison was made of wet and dry counties in the state. Here are some of the results of that study.

Wet counties had 121% more murder, 326% more robberies, 142% more negligent manslaughter, 90% more weapons violations, 426% more disorderly, and 106% more drunkenness.

Drunk driving arrests, adult alcohol and drug arrests, and juvenile arrest for drug violations were all over 30% higher in wet counties.

Population growth from 1990-2000 in dry counties was almost three times that of wet counties (2000 census data).

Law enforcement personnel needs in wet counties averaged 1 per 318 citizens as opposed to 1 per 501 citizens in a dry county (Arkansas Criminal Information Center).

Families will not move to Martin because we have good restaurants, or because we have liquor by the drink, they will come because it is a good, safe place to raise and educate their families.

So you see there is an economic issue here that will not be very positive for our county and state. Think and vote NO on Nov. 5

Bob Hathcock is a professor emeritus in the Plant and Soil Science department.