Pubdate: Sat, 27 Jan 2001
Source: The World (OR)
Copyright: 2001 Southwestern Oregon Publishing Company
Contact:  P.O. Box 1840, Coos Bay, OR 97420
Fax: (541) 267-0294
Website: http://www.theworldlink.com/
Author: Alice Blank
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n114/a09.html

NO MORE RIPPING US OFF

Three cheers for Measure 3!

Yes, there still is intelligent life in Oregon. The proof was on our
ballots.

Apparently I'm not the only person around here who's tired of living in
fear. Thanks to Measure 3, we all can feel safer in our homes.

Prosecutor Frasier whines that Measure 3 takes away "their" money (his
and SCINT's) (The World, Jan. 20) Pardon me mister, but that's our
money, not yours.

Before Measure 3, those goons were free to help themselves to anyone's
assets in a nice, big free-for-all. I guess it can become pretty
habit-forming, taking what isn't yours without impunity. Thanks to those
mean old voters who opted for Measure 3 last November, the party's over
now. SCINT and the police are no longer free to rip us off blind on a
whim or a hunch and pocket all the spoils!

This is breaking our hearts.

Lincoln County's argument that Measure 3 is unconstitutional for
amending more than one part of the Constitution intrigues me. After all,
punishment without due process of law was unconstitutional to begin
with. Who do these people think they're fooling?

Seizure and forfeiture is just one more abuse of power, carried on in
the name of the "war on drugs," and it is legally sanctioned theft. Many
of these forfeiture cases are based only on hearsay; yet even when no
evidence is found, seized assets are never returned. This threatens all
of us: drug users and non-users alike.

Police captain Bill Kinch protests that Measure 3 is unjust. Gee, that's
too bad. If  SCINT personnel suddenly find themselves kicked off the
gravy train and sucking dry lemons, maybe they out to have a bake sale.
Or better yet, Looney and his goons can find something more useful to
do, like catching burglars and rapists; maybe even nabbing a few of
those white-collar criminals!

Meanwhile, I think Captain Kinch needs to stop his whining and get back
to doing the job our tax money paid him to do: hunting down the real
criminals. Then maybe he and his cronies will leave the rest of us
alone.

To my fellow voters, a toast to freedom!

Alice Blank, Coos Bay
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk