Pubdate: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ) Copyright: 2006 Pulitzer Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23 Author: Bruce P. Murchison Note: Bruce P. Murchison is a teacher at Sahuaro High School and an adjunct instructor in political science at Pima Community College. PATRIOT ACT COULD BE USED AGAINST DRUG GANGS While our politicians continue to bicker about what to do with all the illegal immigrants pouring over our border, the answer may be right under their noses. One side points out the monetary issues of providing health care and education as well as the increase in crime. The other side focuses solely on the "rights" of those coming across, calling any criticism of illegal immigration "racist." Many entrants are merely trying to provide a better future for their families (a noble endeavor), but the fact is that the process they use is still illegal. What many conveniently forget is the greatest threat to the safety of our families. As drugs continue to flood into our state and gang violence increases to the point where people don't dare to venture outside at night in some parts of our city, it is time to employ the true intent of the USA Patriot Act aE" to fight and deter terrorism. And that is what this is: domestic terrorism. Instead of trying piecemeal legislation to get personal agendas accomplished, our government needs to pull together, stop the partisan wrangling and put the needs of Arizonans first. The first duty of a government is to protect its citizens. They are not doing that. Crime is not a Republican or Demo-crat issue. It is a people issue. Our children are being poisoned by the tremendous amount of drugs being smuggled into our state and many illegal immigrants are promoting gang violence. One of the most dangerous gangs is the Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a gang started by Salvadorans in our prisons. Many of these gang members have been deported before and continue to gain entry to our country. As with homegrown gangs such as the Bloods, Crips and others, the results are the same: drug dealing, violence and murder. Our government is supposed to defend us against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Anyone whose intent is to harm or destroy Americans is an enemy. Anyone. By reclassifying all drug dealers and gang members as domestic terrorists, the Patriot Act could be utilized to rid our great state of these thugs. Currently, many of these criminals are being freed due to loopholes in the law. The Patriot Act would make it easier to round up and neutralize this destructive group. Of course, the American Civil Liberties Union and its allies would decry this as an infringement on the terrorists' "rights." While the ACLU has done some good in keeping the government at bay in some instances, it needs to rethink its position on this issue. Remember, giving aid and comfort to the enemy is a crime, also. It's called treason. Whether Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, white, black, or Hispanic, these are our children we are talking about, our families; for some, our reason to live. They are too precious to allow politicians to play games with their safety. While some love to spout Ben Franklin's quote that those who are willing to sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither, and piously ask what good is life without liberty, just remember, what good is liberty without life? Bruce P. Murchison is a teacher at Sahuaro High School and an adjunct instructor in political science at Pima Community College. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin