Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2001
Source: Star (IL)
Copyright: 2000 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.starnewspapers.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1052
Author: John Gaitskill

YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A FAILURE

The shooting down of the missionary plane in Peru with the tragic 
results is another example that the so-called War on Drugs is a 
mistake.

Americans are encouraging and assisting other nations to participate 
in law enforcement activities that we could not do in America without 
due process.

It has not been for the lack of trying. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, 
tried to introduce legislation recently that would have allowed U.S. 
authorities to shoot down a plane that failed to respond to a radio 
call or otherwise appeared suspicious in the eyes of the DEA.

Neither flight plans nor radios are required for flights in good 
weather over much of U.S. airspace. Fortunately, Senator McConnell's 
attempt at encouraging deadly force without due process didn't get 
very far.

The War on Drugs is a huge waste of tax payer dollars. We should be 
finding another way to discourage recreational drug use in the U.S.

John Gaitskill Park Forest Via e-mail
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe