Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ) Copyright: 2002 Pulitzer Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23 Author: Carol A. Dart Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n089/a05.html LAUD HIGH COURT FOR PROTECTING LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS Re: the Jan. 19 editorial "A troubling decision." As a law-abiding citizen, I applaud the Supreme Court decision and do not fear it is "rife with potential abuse." What isn't rife with potential abuse? There will always be enough bleeding hearts (and legitimate advocates of the Constitution) to make sure law enforcement doesn't go too far. Those who might be considered the wrong color, driving around in the wrong neighborhood in the wrong vehicle have nothing to worry about as long as they have done nothing wrong. This is not the Soviet Union nor a Third-World country. Innocent people have nothing to be concerned about when it pertains to search and seizures by law enforcement. The critics you mentioned must be people afraid they might actually do something wrong - on purpose. It is high time we shed our pitiful past decade of casualness toward suspicious outsiders and wrongdoers and protect our law-abiding citizens first. If that means beefing up the Border Patrol, then so be it. We will all be safer for it - all except for those who have no regard for the law of the land or the people it claims to protect. I'm certain your editorial will please Ralph Arvizu's attorney as he prepares his appeal, but I thought it was over the top. Carol A. Dart Communications consultant - --- MAP posted-by: Beth