Pubdate: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) Copyright: 2005, Denver Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371 Author: David O'Shea-Dawkins, Denver police officer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Referenced: TALE OF DRUG DEALER NEGLECTS LARGER PICTURE In Paul Campos' Feb. 22 column, "When our justice is unjust," he conveniently passed over the fact that the "largely harmless drug" marijuana is still illegal. Those who sell it, like Weldon Angeles, know it, and by carrying a weapon during that process contributes to the violent culture that destroys lives and neighborhoods, mostly in low-income communities. Weldon is not a victim here as Campos would like you to believe. The victims are the children he sold to who go on to other dangerous drugs, the neighbors who were robbed to get the money to buy the drugs, the neighborhoods that can no longer be viable because the middle class moved out and the poor hide out! Sure, Angeles got a tough sentence, but his illegal behavior can be a life sentence and sometimes a death sentence to a community where those like him ply their trade. Maybe his gang will get the message. David O'Shea-Dawkins Denver police officer Denver - --- MAP posted-by: Beth