Pubdate: Tue, 05 Dec 2000
Source: Times Record News (TX)
Copyright: 2000 The E.W. Scripps Co.
Contact:  1301 Lamar, Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Fax: 940/767-1741
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Author: Stephen Young

RULING APPLAUDED

It is heartening to see the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against random drug
checkpoints.

For years the drug war has been used to invade the privacy of all citizens.
Want a job? You must prove yourself innocent of drug crimes by submitting
bodily fluids for analysis. Same thing if you are a student hoping to join
in an extracurricular activity. And all students are subject to random
searches by drug-sniffing dogs, while anyone who travels by bus may find
themselves face to face with a law enforcement officer who "requests" to
search their personal belongings.

Since many illegal drug users look and act just like people who don't use
illegal drugs, those would protect us from ourselves need to check out
everyone. While making people prove their innocence may catch some drug
users, it also allows authorities to scrutinize citizens without any cause.

The war on drugs is a also a war on personal privacy.

Stephen Young, Roselle, Ill., via e-mail
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