Pubdate: Fri, 24 Feb 2012
Source: Delta Optimist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.delta-optimist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1265
Author: Steven Austin
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n119/a01.html?1398

JUST BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL DOESN'T MEAN IT'S MORAL

Editor:

Re: Make it legal, letter to the editor, Feb. 8

In Robert Sharpe's twisted world, the etiology of crime is the law
itself, not the nefarious actions of humans. This egregious logic
suggests that criminals are never morally culpable for their deeds.

First of all, the Supreme Court of Canada declared in R. v.
Malmo-Levine (2003) that the criminal prohibition of marijuana did not
offend the Charter of Rights.

Parliament will ultimately settle the controversy.

Advocates for the legalization of drugs and other vices, in my view,
have something sinister in their past which they are desperately
trying to hide. They see no evil and hear no evil.

Just because a particular activity is legal does not mean it is
morally permissible. Smoking, drinking and gambling are legal, yet
they still have very destructive effects individually and
collectively.

I would challenge Sharpe and other asinine libertarians to explain how
the legalization of drugs is essential to the survival of democracy.
In my view, drugs are not a necessity of life (along with smoking,
drinking and gambling).

The great parliamentarian and conservative philosopher Edmund Burke
opined, "The extreme of liberty obtains no where, nor ought to obtain
any where...

Liberty too must be limited in order to be possessed."

Steven Austin
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.