Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jan 2013
Source: Lake County News-Sun (IL)
Copyright: 2013 Sun-Times News Group
Contact:  http://newssun.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3928
Author: Elmer Rullman

POOR CHOICES

I was extremely disappointed in Frank Abderholden's unbalanced Jan. 
18 story titled "Ounce of prevention."

I work in an environment where I see the social/societal results of 
drug use/addiction every day. I have seen innocent families' lives 
changed forever and ripped apart due to one person's irresponsible 
use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs, so a nerve was struck with me 
when I read this article.

Here a few points to ponder when it comes to being busted for just a 
little bit of pot:

1) Pot possession is illegal in the state of Illinois. We all know 
this. If you break the law knowingly, don't be surprised when you are 
treated like a criminal and someone gets arrested. It is not the 
cops' problem that due to your poor choices your grandson has to be 
caught up in enforcement activities. Own your mistakes and don't 
blame the cops who are just doing their job.

2) The act of buying pot or any other illegal drugs makes you 
complicit and responsible for all of the innocent people who are 
being hurt and killed as a result of drug traffickers plying their 
trade. This is not a victimless, harmless activity that you are 
supporting through your choices to fund this illegal activity.

3) The authorities had a search warrant and probable cause to search 
the house. How do I know there wasn't a kilo of marijuana on the 
table downstairs an hour before the house was searched? I would be 
more sympathetic to these peoples' plight if nothing was found in the search.

4) My tax dollars are going to fund Maxine's disability payments. Why 
should I be funding this couple's ability to purchase illegal drugs. 
I think that the state should revisit this couple's eligibility for 
any kind of state/federal aid based on their illegal activity.

5) These people are 51 and 47 years old. They should have some 
concept of cause and affect, the potential repercussions of their 
actions. I would be more compelled to have some sympathy for them if 
they were 19 and 15 years old, and not 51 and 47 years old.

Elmer Rullman

Lindenhurst
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom