Locked Away Without Mercy: Fernando Miguel Nunez's Plea Against Throwing LivesAway in the Face of a 365-Month Sentence

Fernando Miguel Nunez, a once-free spirit navigating the twists of life, found himselfensnared in a web of legal complexities, facing an astonishing 365-month sentence fora non-violent cannabis crime. At the age of 24, Fernando's world was a mosaic of family,friends, and the promise of a future intertwined with his childhood sweetheart.

Before the sentence cast its shadow, Fernando was a diligent freelancer in logistics, aprofession that took him on journeys across the map. His plans were not only personalbut deeply rooted in the dreams of building a life with his childhood girlfriend. Heaspired to marry her, support her through college, and construct a future filled withshared hopes and dreams.

Tragedy, however, had already left its mark on Fernando's life. Losing his father at thetender age of 13 to lung cancer was a poignant chapter, and the subsequent passing ofa close friend who played a paternal role further deepened the emotional wounds. In theconfines of prison, where the weight of solitude intensifies grief, Fernando faced thechallenge of bottling up these emotions, unable to properly cope with the profound loss.

As the world outside evolved, embracing the legalization of cannabis in some regions,Fernando found solace in the fact that perceptions were changing. He reflected on theirony that while some enjoyed cannabis recreationally, he found himself serving anextended sentence for a non-violent act related to the same substance.

With a perspective shaped by his own journey, Fernando advocates for areconsideration of the justice system's approach. He decries the draconian nature of a30-year sentence for a crime associated with marijuana, branding it as cruel andunusual punishment. In his eyes, the war on drugs, wielded by the Drug EnforcementAdministration, has become a tool for mass incarceration.

Fernando calls upon the Department of Justice and state lawmakers to reevaluate theirphilosophy, urging a more nuanced and compassionate approach. He contends thatimprisoning individuals and discarding the key is tantamount to throwing away lives,and questions the absence of mercy in a system that seems to lack empathy for thehuman stories behind the sentences. As he serves his time, Fernando echoes a plea forchange, hoping that society and its institutions can evolve to better reflect mercy andunderstanding in the pursuit of justice.

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