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Newshawk: LEAP http://www.leap.cc/
Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jul 2008
Source: Omaha World-Herald (NE)
Page: 7B
Copyright: 2008 Omaha World-Herald Company
Contact:
Website: http://www.omaha.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/320
Author: Tony Ryan
Note: The writer, of Sioux Falls, S.D., is a board member of and speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. He was a Denver police officer for 36 years, serving as either a supervisor or commander for 26 of those years. He is in Omaha this week, speaking to various Kiwanis clubs.
Cited: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition http://www.leap.cc/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?233 (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)
DRUG WAR COSTS A LOT, DOES LITTLE
In 36 years of continuous service as a Denver police officer, I was
shot at, stabbed - threatened in several ways. That came with the
territory, and my comrades and I were well protected by our equipment
and training. But, frightening as that was, nothing threatens the
honor and prestige of our police more than our mandate to carry out
the so-called war on drugs. When we jailed a rapist or a child
molester, we made the streets safer - period. But when we arrested a
drug dealer - at any level - we just created a job opening that was
quickly filled.
And when we arrested a drug user, we were violating an American
citizen's basic right to make stupid choices ( not to mention
discouraging others with drug addiction problems from seeking medical
help ).
Rapists and child molesters are pathological, anti-social and
atypical. On the other hand, the government's own figures show that
more than 112 million Americans ( 46 percent of those ages 12 and
older ) have used illegal drugs in their lives.
[Remainder snipped]
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake
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