Pubdate: Sun, 10 May 2009
Source: Colusa County Sun-Herald (CA)
Copyright: 2009 Freedom Communications
Contact: http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/sections/letters-to-editor/
Website: http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4994
Author: Ralph Givens

U.S. DRUG POLICY SPURS MEXICAN VIOLENCE

There will be no solution to the drug cartel violence in Mexico so
long as the United States maintains a brain-dead drug prohibition
policy that has failed for more than 90 years.

It is time to relearn the lesson of alcohol prohibition - namely that
it is impossible to prevent people from using drugs that they like.

The results of alcohol prohibition were violent bootlegger activity,
corruption of police and public officials and a breakdown in law and
order while utterly failing to reduce alcohol use one iota. They had
more speakeasies at the end of alcohol prohibition than there had been
saloons when they began.

Law enforcement found it impossible to suppress the criminal
activities of Al Capone and his ilk. Repeal finally put an end to the
bombings and shoot outs without ever firing a shot.

Until we recognize that the same principles are operating because of
current drug policies, there will be no solution to violence in Mexico.

Ralph Givens

Daly City
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake