Pubdate: Wed, 23 Dec 2015
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
Copyright: 2015 PG Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/pm4R4dI4
Website: http://www.post-gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/341
Author: Gary Paull

HEROIN IS VIOLENCE

I read with astonishment your Dec. 19 front-page article about the 
Clairton heroin dealer who had his sentence commuted by President 
Barack Obama ("Clairton Native's Term Commuted," Dec. 19). The 
article described what a truly nice guy he is.

I personally know six young people who had their lives destroyed by 
drug dealers, two overdosed and died. Their families would not agree 
that drug dealers are truly nice guys or that they engage in 
nonviolent behavior.

The same day, on page B-1, an article describes a local heroin dealer 
who supplied drugs and weapons for the East Hills Bloods, who were 
investigated by the FBI for "dealing heroin and related violence" 
("Jury Finds Head Shop Owner Guilty of Heroin Distribution"). On page 
B-5 that day, an article talked about another local heroin dealer 
accused of shooting a man 10 times with an AK-47 ("Murder Suspect 
Convicted of Federal Heroin Charge"). The vast majority of the street 
violence in Pittsburgh is gang- and drug-related.

The heroin and drug trade is controlled by ruthless men and violent 
gangs who kill people over money. This violence is destroying 
neighborhoods and lives. Heroin dealing is not a "nonviolent" 
occupation, like a baker or bus driver, and for the president to 
suggest the same is pure lunacy.

GARY PAULL

Lincoln Place
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom