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Fla Dem

(27,615 posts)

288. Bretous already served 15 years of a 19 year sentence for 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Fri Apr 1, 2016, 05:51 PM

Apr 2016

A lot is taken into consideration when commuting sentences. How they've reformed in prison, if they have a good family support system, and how just was the sentence for the crime committed among other issues.

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Why is the President commuting sentences of cocaine traffickers? [View all] Press Virginia Mar 2016 OP

What About Don Siegelman And Rod Blagoivich Mr. President?....... global1 Mar 2016 #1

They'd certainly be more deserving Press Virginia Mar 2016 #2

I didn't think about RB, but he should free Don S. nt Ilsa Mar 2016 #3

Blago is a low-life criminal. Obama would never pardon or commute that scumbag. tritsofme Mar 2016 #15

Siegelman? Of course. Blagojevich? Not so much... Safe as Milk Mar 2016 #128

Blagoivich? Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #136

Don yes JackInGreen Mar 2016 #152

Yes Mr President, Free Don Siegelman! Dont call me Shirley Mar 2016 #182

Siegelman should be commuted and rove imprisoned in his place Flyingbird5066 Apr 2016 #275

Because it's the right things to do. morningfog Mar 2016 #4

Cocaine? How about Heroin? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #5

Maybe they served long enough??? Logical Mar 2016 #7

Our drug sentencing laws are draconian. morningfog Mar 2016 #12

For pot, yeah Press Virginia Mar 2016 #14

For all drugs. morningfog Mar 2016 #16

So the government should feed the addiction? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #17

We have these draconian laws on the books right now Warren Stupidity Mar 2016 #21

Pot is one thing Press Virginia Mar 2016 #23

No, they really aren't. jeff47 Mar 2016 #29

It is a belief fixation. Data doesn't matter. Warren Stupidity Mar 2016 #56

Opioid addiction bad Press Virginia Mar 2016 #77

And with that statement, let me say "Welcome to DU" CreekDog Mar 2016 #104

Whatever Press Virginia Mar 2016 #108

I'm confused. Press Virginia has 491 posts. Isn't that beyond the margin of welcoming people to DU? StevieM Mar 2016 #255

well they joined in February CreekDog Apr 2016 #290

This message was self-deleted by its author merrily Mar 2016 #156

Oh, prison doesn't work Press Virginia Mar 2016 #60

Prison deters some acts. It does not deter others. jeff47 Mar 2016 #65

Prison doesn't deter people from drug trafficking? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #68

Because drug dealers exist in a vacuum? jeff47 Mar 2016 #72

So we legalize drugs Press Virginia Mar 2016 #74

We legalize drugs in order to reduce the cost of treating users jeff47 Mar 2016 #76

How are you going to reduce users by making the drugs theyre addicted to Press Virginia Mar 2016 #100

What happened in those countries that did? hobbit709 Mar 2016 #140

Which countries legalized heroin, meth and coke Press Virginia Mar 2016 #144

There are those that decriminalized possession. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #145

Possession of 5 kilos, in an airport Press Virginia Mar 2016 #147

5 Kilos is penny ante level smuggling. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #148

It's not the sign of a recreational user Press Virginia Mar 2016 #149

so why your big outrage? hobbit709 Mar 2016 #150

Well, I expected a bunch of people who were Press Virginia Mar 2016 #151

you don't know much about the real world out there. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #153

Whaaaaat? You mean when you're convicted of a crime Press Virginia Mar 2016 #154

Must be a nice view up there on your moral high horse. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #158

I know if you're caught with over a million bucks Press Virginia Mar 2016 #159

How do you get a million bucks? hobbit709 Mar 2016 #161

a kilo runs about 50k Press Virginia Mar 2016 #167

Can't cut coke the way you do heroin. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #168

anybody buying it is lucky to get anything above 75% unless you have a great hookup Press Virginia Mar 2016 #172

I must have known the right people. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #173

Portugal BigMin28 Apr 2016 #304

Decriminalization isn't legalization Press Virginia Apr 2016 #305

God no. We treat use by correcting the conditions that lead to drug abuse Ed Suspicious Mar 2016 #81

By legalizing all drugs? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #85

We stop punishing addicts. What is the goal of punishing addicts? Ed Suspicious Mar 2016 #91

No one is talking about punishing addicts Press Virginia Mar 2016 #101

The people whose sentences were commuted are DEALERS Press Virginia Apr 2016 #264

Oh for the love of LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #262

Which "for profit" federal prison were any of these people serving in? Press Virginia Apr 2016 #265

What effect did this have on drug use? nt LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #268

The same effect as putting a murderer or rapist in prison Press Virginia Apr 2016 #269

And how has that worked out so far? LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #272

so we can't punish the addicts because they're victims Press Virginia Apr 2016 #274

Somebody didn't read the linked material, did they? n/t LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #276

Nevermind, I found it....and it doesn't address the issue Press Virginia Apr 2016 #277

Yes, I understand LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #278

You know how you get 20 years for smuggling Press Virginia Apr 2016 #279

Here's one of those "second chancers" who had his sentence commuted Press Virginia Apr 2016 #282

Good for Obama LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #283

I ignore what isn't based on facts or reality Press Virginia Apr 2016 #284

Ah, you're claiming that the reporting from Portugal LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #285

Once again you're conflating addiction with smuggling Press Virginia Apr 2016 #286

You need to re-read this subthread. Carefully. LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #291

People, like you, who've never read the actual sentencing guidelines Press Virginia Apr 2016 #292

I know what they got convicted of LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #293

Abortion is legal, drug trafficking is not Press Virginia Apr 2016 #294

Abortion wasn't always legal, and still isn't in a good chunk of the world LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #296

Now you're playing in the land of make believe Press Virginia Apr 2016 #297

... LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #310

If only it were a dodge Press Virginia Apr 2016 #311

Agreed Flyingbird5066 Apr 2016 #298

Loss of the ability for obscene profits from drug trafficking, will deter drug trafficking. MH1 Apr 2016 #299

No, the profits just to someone else Press Virginia Apr 2016 #300

Have you done any of these? Silver_Witch Mar 2016 #112

Pot isn't addictive and won't kill you Press Virginia Mar 2016 #114

Tell that to my ex-husband... Silver_Witch Mar 2016 #119

How do you plan to medically supervise heroin or cocaine or meth? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #121

If it is legal.. Silver_Witch Mar 2016 #124

Says who? The cartels could simply sell a higher purity, especially since they Press Virginia Mar 2016 #127

The cartels make money because of prohibition Johnny2X2X Mar 2016 #194

cheap and safe? Where pray tell are they going to find this cheap and safe cocaine Press Virginia Mar 2016 #195

The cartels will be gone. Johnny2X2X Mar 2016 #232

It's already being produced at industrial rates at pennies a gram Press Virginia Mar 2016 #236

oh yeah....I've heard of the growing opioid problem too Press Virginia Mar 2016 #197

I can give you meth dsc Mar 2016 #220

Yes! People don't die from cocaine overdoses. morningfog Mar 2016 #43

How do you plan to regulate the dosage and purity of these drugs? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #54

Purity is easy if it's regulated. morningfog Mar 2016 #55

How are you going to regulate every sale? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #58

Same way we regulate every sale of NyQuil. jeff47 Mar 2016 #84

yeaaaah...if it's legal, the cost of bringing into the country drops Press Virginia Mar 2016 #88

The government does not sell NyQuil. Nor does the government sell pot in Colorado. jeff47 Mar 2016 #94

Your plan was to regulate all sales Press Virginia Mar 2016 #106

People die from cocaine overdoses. Maedhros Mar 2016 #178

It should not treat a disease as if its sufferers were monsters. Scootaloo Apr 2016 #306

Which would be a relevant argument if it were the addicts being locked up Press Virginia Apr 2016 #307

You were talking about "feeding the addiction," in response to a pro-legalization argument Scootaloo Apr 2016 #308

Not just feeding it. Deliberately causing it Press Virginia Apr 2016 #309

So I choose to live drug-free, but I should pay for "dosing centers" for everyone else who didn't? MadDAsHell Mar 2016 #20

Double bonus, you get to pay for rehab too Press Virginia Mar 2016 #25

It's way cheaper than paying for prison. jeff47 Mar 2016 #28

How does creating addicts benefit anyone? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #31

It doesn't create addicts. Addicts create themselves. jeff47 Mar 2016 #36

Who is going to regulate the distribution and sale if not the government Press Virginia Mar 2016 #103

You mean like the government regulates the distribution of alcohol and cigarettes jeff47 Mar 2016 #218

Ever hear of an ABC store? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #221

Yes. Most states don't have them. jeff47 Mar 2016 #222

ever hear of the FDA? They approve of the manufacture and sale Press Virginia Mar 2016 #223

And is the FDA the only one who sells NyQuil? jeff47 Mar 2016 #229

The FDA approves the product to be sold by its producer Press Virginia Mar 2016 #230

Hrm....if only there was a government agency that already did something similar jeff47 Mar 2016 #231

It can't work because the cartels will still provide drugs that cannot be regulated Press Virginia Mar 2016 #234

Pure is pure. Cutting is a cost saving measure, no? I would suspect dosage would be far Ed Suspicious Apr 2016 #270

Cutting is for increasing quanity. Press Virginia Apr 2016 #271

You'd prefer to pay for their incarceration? morningfog Mar 2016 #34

so we create the addicts then treat them? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #110

Right now we punish addicts and that seems to 'create' more because we have many addicts... Bluenorthwest Mar 2016 #142

At the federal level? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #146

Nah, under our current system you can punt it off to a for profit prison. herding cats Mar 2016 #35

THIS ^^^^^^ EOM boobooday Apr 2016 #303

Count up all the people who's lives have been destroyed by all drugs... Major Nikon Mar 2016 #97

a legal drug...I'm sure hard drugs would be different, right? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #99

People getting addicted to hard drugs exactly as they do with alcohol Major Nikon Mar 2016 #109

So the solution is to make them as available as alcohol? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #115

You don't see the benefit because you look at it exactly backwards Major Nikon Mar 2016 #120

What is the benefit of drug addiction? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #122

You keep assuming addiction rates will go up if drugs are legalized Major Nikon Mar 2016 #125

If the tax stamp worked Press Virginia Mar 2016 #126

The fact is the market for cigarettes and alcohol is measured in billions Major Nikon Mar 2016 #129

I specifically said moonshiners and interstate smuggling for which there isnt Press Virginia Mar 2016 #131

Exactly. You are pointing out a tiny segment of the market. Major Nikon Mar 2016 #163

Its tiny because most people drink moonshine as a novelty. The people who do it aren't doing it Press Virginia Mar 2016 #196

You have a curious interpretation of cause and effect Major Nikon Mar 2016 #198

The fact that there is a black market for alcohol should tell you that every sale can't be regulated Press Virginia Mar 2016 #200

So because 100% legality can't be achieved, there's no sense in trying for 99% Major Nikon Mar 2016 #203

No one said that. But the idea that legalization and government standards on Press Virginia Mar 2016 #204

I seem to have misplaced my English-Gibberish translation dictionary Major Nikon Mar 2016 #206

I didn't realize it was a confusing term Press Virginia Mar 2016 #208

Before I thought it was just crazy talk, now I'm sure of it Major Nikon Mar 2016 #209

do you even know what the word "sanction" means? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #210

You are going further down the rabbit hole Major Nikon Mar 2016 #211

I'll take your response as a no Press Virginia Mar 2016 #212

OK, I'll play this game because it should be a lot of fun Major Nikon Mar 2016 #213

I already know you don't know what it means Press Virginia Mar 2016 #214

I don't speak gibberish, so I can't come up with a definition that fits your context Major Nikon Mar 2016 #215

Gibberish? You're struggling with English Press Virginia Mar 2016 #216

Not anymore. I learned that "addiction" is evidently part of the definition for "sanction" Major Nikon Mar 2016 #217

i see your problem Press Virginia Mar 2016 #219

Does the state sanction alcohol addiction? Major Nikon Mar 2016 #224

I've answered your questions. You can't seem to Press Virginia Mar 2016 #225

So I'll take that as a yes Major Nikon Mar 2016 #226

Once again you get lost going from A to B Press Virginia Mar 2016 #228

As did everyone else in this thread Major Nikon Mar 2016 #235

Yeaaaaah says the guy who cant Press Virginia Mar 2016 #238

Neither could anyone else Major Nikon Mar 2016 #240

See? Once again you show you don't understand the word sanction. Press Virginia Mar 2016 #241

Once again you get lost going from A to B Major Nikon Mar 2016 #242

Still not able to grasp such a simple concept, eh? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #243

... Major Nikon Mar 2016 #249

the percentage of the population with a substance addiction has pretty stayed the same for years. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #141

Yes. All of them. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2016 #133

So does alcohol, tobacco and prescription opiates. BlackCoffeeinNYC Mar 2016 #171

Thank you. nt Raine1967 Mar 2016 #6

I agree with morningfog greymouse Mar 2016 #92

I completely agree. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2016 #132

ALL non violent drug offenders in American penal system are political prisoners. Jackie Wilson Said Apr 2016 #301

The war on drugs failed Johnny2X2X Mar 2016 #8

5 kilos? He wasn't caught with a gram or an 8 ball Press Virginia Mar 2016 #11

Non violent dealers. morningfog Mar 2016 #13

How are we going to ensure cocaine is safe?heroin? Meth? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #18

The reality is, our current methods haven't worked. herding cats Mar 2016 #22

How do cocaine, meth or heroin addicts Press Virginia Mar 2016 #24

How does criminalizing addiction help? herding cats Mar 2016 #26

The pardoned weren't addicts Press Virginia Mar 2016 #27

Which has nothing to do with your reply to me. herding cats Mar 2016 #30

Since I'm not talking about criminalizing addiction Press Virginia Mar 2016 #33

A reminder for you. herding cats Mar 2016 #40

And? jeff47 Mar 2016 #32

The pharma industry doesn't market a drug without fda testing and approval Press Virginia Mar 2016 #37

And what do you think happens when recreational drugs stop being illegal? jeff47 Mar 2016 #41

So big pharma can sell cocaine and meth....great solution Press Virginia Mar 2016 #45

We have 40 years demonstrating prison does not work jeff47 Mar 2016 #46

How much will government approved addicts cost us? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #51

Less than government-incarcerated addicts, dealers and traffickers. jeff47 Mar 2016 #53

Prohibition is a failed public policy, again. #fail nt TeamPooka Mar 2016 #49

Then why have laws at all? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #123

do you know how you get a life sentence in federal prison for drug distribution? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #191

So what? Johnny2X2X Mar 2016 #188

They are non violent offenders and this OP is misleading. Raine1967 Mar 2016 #9

5 kilos isn't a low level drug offender. Press Virginia Mar 2016 #10

Do we need to show you the definition of "Most"? (nt) jeff47 Mar 2016 #38

Have you read the list of those pardoned and what they were convicted of? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #42

Point me towards where anyone claimed they were users jeff47 Mar 2016 #44

Except most of them were not low level offenders Press Virginia Mar 2016 #48

And? jeff47 Mar 2016 #52

Prison is a punishment. Press Virginia Mar 2016 #57

Because it does deter some acts. jeff47 Mar 2016 #61

Oh? So no one is deterred by drug laws Press Virginia Mar 2016 #64

Since the blue line did not change, nope. jeff47 Mar 2016 #67

Yeaaaaah...you know those people who aren't deterred by prison sentences Press Virginia Mar 2016 #82

Because dealers exist in a vacuum? jeff47 Mar 2016 #93

It's not deterring the drug trade. herding cats Mar 2016 #66

Ahhhh but it deters murder and rape? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #71

Addiction is on a whole different spectrum herding cats Mar 2016 #73

I'm not talking about criminalizing addiction Press Virginia Mar 2016 #75

I never said to legalize drugs. herding cats Mar 2016 #86

It's the argument being made all over the thread Press Virginia Mar 2016 #90

Decriminalisation does not mean that people can use drugs with impunity. herding cats Mar 2016 #95

Excuse me...the argument was for legalization Press Virginia Mar 2016 #98

What are you even talking about here? herding cats Mar 2016 #107

I confused you with the guy who wanted legalization Press Virginia Mar 2016 #160

What do you want to press Virginia for, does it have too many hills? snooper2 Mar 2016 #157

How is spending to keep them in prison fixing the problem? herding cats Mar 2016 #59

How does someone serving a life sentence reoffend? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #62

Chances of re offending is a criteria evaluated before a person is given a commuted sentence herding cats Mar 2016 #70

I'm sure drug traffickers are going to be fine Press Virginia Mar 2016 #80

Lovely. herding cats Mar 2016 #89

ahhhh...one can make millions trafficking coke Press Virginia Mar 2016 #96

They'll be a convicted felon the same as the drug dealer. herding cats Mar 2016 #102

Ahhhh...so the drug trafficker is going to go from Press Virginia Mar 2016 #105

Ok. herding cats Mar 2016 #111

No. I'm trying to understand how releasing drug traffickers Press Virginia Mar 2016 #113

No, you're not. herding cats Mar 2016 #116

If you say so Press Virginia Mar 2016 #118

Got it. You're an anti-drug warrior who ignores extenuating circumstances and the fact that TeamPooka Mar 2016 #47

Have you read the list of the people who had their sentences commuted Press Virginia Mar 2016 #50

You focus on the crimes. The rest of us focus on the justice. TeamPooka Mar 2016 #83

What justice is derived from releasing drug traffickers? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #117

None. 840high Mar 2016 #130

What justice is derived from retaining drug dealers? Glassunion Mar 2016 #169

good post. How many times have people made the President look bad treestar Mar 2016 #227

Almost every damn time, treestar. Raine1967 Mar 2016 #247

That's the claim, here's a dose of the truth Press Virginia Apr 2016 #287

The usual response includes the words Kenyan, socialist, Muslim, gun-grabbing, but misspelled. PSPS Mar 2016 #19

13 dimensional chess... nt revbones Mar 2016 #39

Actually, I think pardoning nonviolent drug offenders is a good, overdue move. Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #135

I agree. Why is it such a small selective group though? revbones Mar 2016 #162

I don't know the answer, there. Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #187

More lives are ruined by PRISON than by drugs use and addiction. underahedgerow Mar 2016 #138

CIA operatives can't smuggle in drugs if they are stuck in prison. Rex Mar 2016 #63

Technically this guy didn't even transport cocaine fbc Mar 2016 #69

3 Year Max All Drug Crimes Yallow Mar 2016 #78

How about the people doing life for LSD TransitJohn Mar 2016 #79

OP is intentionally obtuse and ignores facts of the cited cases. Thread trashed, OP ignored. TeamPooka Mar 2016 #87

Because the war on drugs has failed, that's why. Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #134

Exactly. People don't NOT do drugs because they're illegal, they choose not to embrace underahedgerow Mar 2016 #137

I think it's an oversimplification. Not all drugs are equal, neither is all use/abuse/addiction Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #139

I saw something funny on TV last night while channel surfing Major Nikon Mar 2016 #166

Yeah, there is a whole ton of complexity to the conversation that just doesn't get covered by Warren DeMontague Apr 2016 #258

The legal consequences of cannabis and bath salts aren't that different Major Nikon Apr 2016 #273

How you can tell you live in an authoritative society.... Major Nikon Mar 2016 #165

One of the more refreshing trends I've noticed in this country, in my lifetime- at least the past Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #186

Me thinks, thou protesteth Darb Mar 2016 #143

Because mandatory minimums are repulsive. PeteSelman Mar 2016 #155

what should the penalty be for smuggling and trafficking in say Heroin or Coke? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #177

Drugs should be legalized. PeteSelman Mar 2016 #199

7 years....why that's more than the current mandatory minimum for a first offense Press Virginia Mar 2016 #201

I said "max". PeteSelman Apr 2016 #261

Because sentencing laws have changed since they were sentenced. ViseGrip Mar 2016 #164

Really? The penalties for smuggling and trafficking are now less severe? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #175

Great War on Drugs is a scam Matrosov Mar 2016 #170

Your concern has been duly noted. tenderfoot Mar 2016 #174

Question: Are "people unjustly imprisoned for a little bit of weed" in FEDERAL prison FSogol Mar 2016 #176

That's what we were led to believe Press Virginia Mar 2016 #179

You really have your facts wrong. There are very few people in Federal prison for marijuana FSogol Mar 2016 #181

there's very few in federal prison whose only crime was posession Press Virginia Mar 2016 #184

Somehow I don't think you started this thread for a thoughtful discussion steve2470 Mar 2016 #180

is it? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #185

People have already addressed your concerns, multiple times steve2470 Mar 2016 #189

you mean people who have no idea how you get a life sentence in a federal prison Press Virginia Mar 2016 #190

"Supplied by the government to doctors" = LIBERTARIAN steve2470 Mar 2016 #192

That wasn't my argument, it was made by someone else. Press Virginia Mar 2016 #193

Um, they gave him a nice donation? Dont call me Shirley Mar 2016 #183

Do you have a link to this story? monicaangela Mar 2016 #202

Thanks Obama! SalviaBlue Mar 2016 #205

have you ever read the mandatory minimum sentences for drug trafficking and distribution? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #207

Manditory minimums are dispicable and lazy kneejerk reactionary laws... SalviaBlue Mar 2016 #256

Do I agree that people who prove over and over they will continue Press Virginia Mar 2016 #257

Because the drug war is fucking stupid. (n/t) Iggo Mar 2016 #233

'Cause he's smart Glassunion Mar 2016 #237

Releasing people with 3 trafficking/distribution convictions is smart? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #239

No. Releasing people with 3 convictions. Glassunion Mar 2016 #244

I'll let the mandatory sentencing guidelines define it Press Virginia Mar 2016 #245

You're upset that a 20 year sentence was knocked down to 15? Glassunion Mar 2016 #246

I don't see the benefit of releasing a drug dealer who, no doubt, profited from the deaths Press Virginia Mar 2016 #248

Ok... So in 4.89 years when he was slated to get out, what then? Glassunion Mar 2016 #250

Then he served his time. Press Virginia Mar 2016 #251

What exactly were his other two convictions? Glassunion Mar 2016 #252

Did you not look at the sentencing guidelines related to the mandatory minimums? Press Virginia Mar 2016 #253

You're not answering my question Glassunion Apr 2016 #259

For whom? Press Virginia Apr 2016 #260

The individual you singled out in the OP. Carmel Bretous Glassunion Apr 2016 #263

I didn't say he got life. Press Virginia Apr 2016 #266

I think he told the turtle that he would release the incarcerated until the Senate voted on his liberal N proud Mar 2016 #254

Just to bug you. Brickbat Apr 2016 #267

Are you a cop? killbotfactory Apr 2016 #280

Does he look like a cop? Press Virginia Apr 2016 #281

Bretous already served 15 years of a 19 year sentence for 5 kilograms of cocaine. Fla Dem Apr 2016 #288

evidently the fact he's a repeat offender was ignored Press Virginia Apr 2016 #289

Considering most of the responses on this thread... Last_Stand Apr 2016 #295

ALL non violent drug offenders in American penal system are political prisoners. Jackie Wilson Said Apr 2016 #302