Pubdate: Fri, 17 Sep 2010
Source: DrugSense Blog
Website: http://drugsense.org/blog/

LETTER OF THE WEEK

LIKE USING GAS TO PUT OUT A FIRE

RE: "Murderous Mexican standoff," Sept.  5:

The article by Mercedes Stephenson concludes with a passionate 
plea.  "Helping our Mexican neighbours to develop long-term judicial 
and police reforms to defeat vile cartels that prey on human misery 
and suffering is a win for everyone." Over the past four decades 
we've increased the number of drug offences in the Controlled Drugs 
Act, we've increased per capita the number of police officers 
enforcing our drug laws, raised the sentences for drug offences, and 
given police as much power to fight the drug war as we dare without 
tossing human rights out the window.  Those enhancements haven't 
brought us any closer to winning the drug war.  Why would we assume, 
therefore, that we have any valuable advice to give Mexico on this 
subject? The federal government is calling for yet more drug 
offences, harsher penalties, more police and other armed forces, more 
prisons, and broader enforcement powers.  It's like using gas to put 
out a fire.  No, we can't help our Mexican neighbours.

Mike Bryan

Pubdate: Sun, 12 Sep 2010

Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n728/a01.html
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