Pubdate: Fri, 19 Nov, 1999
Source: Austin Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 1999 Austin Chronicle Corp.
Contact:  http://www.auschron.com/
Author: R.L. Root

DRACONIAN DRUG WAR

Dear Editor,

I am not at all ashamed to say that I cried upon reading the story of Rusty 
Windle ["Drug Warriors," Nov. 5], who was shot and killed in a drug warrior 
task force raid of his home. I cried not just for Rusty, but also for those 
who have already died and are yet to die in the same fashion. The foot 
soldier who shot Rusty was not only cleared of wrongdoing, he was praised 
by his superiors. His superiors are the ones who should face charges, for 
they have allowed, as have so many local jurisdictions across America, to 
be co-opted by federal agencies and mandated into implementing tactics used 
within regimes where the only Bill of Rights lists the rights of 
government. The War on Drugs breeds contempt within law enforcement for 
citizens' civil rights with disregard for individual privacy, right to 
property, right to self-defense, and many other rights defined and declared 
as inalienable by our Bill of Rights. Even the most basic right, the right 
to life, has been deemed to be forfeitable by the anti-drug lords that wage 
this war. The war on drugs is a war on people. It has as much to do with 
drugs as the Boston Tea Party had to do with tea. And just as King George's 
oppression of the colonists was basically economic, the war on drugs 
continues and grows because it is a multibillion dollar industry. The drug 
warriors in Washington have no plans on ever ending their cash-cow drug 
war. They are addicted to the power and the money. They become the pushers, 
addicting local police forces no differently than drug lords wish to addict 
those weak enough to sample their wares. The drug lords fear 
decriminalization and regulation as much as the drug warriors, as that 
would put both sides out of business. Take a long hard look, America. It's 
the drug warriors who are addicted. It time for you to stand and JUST SAY 
NO! to this draconian policy. In the cause of liberty and justice for all, 
I am,
Very sincerely yours,

R.L. Root

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