"You have to face the fact that the whole problem is really the blacks. The key is to devise a system that recognizes this all while not appearing to." . Richard Nixon as quoted by H.R. Haldeman, supporting a get-tough-on drugs strategy "They give black people time like it's lunch down there. You go down there looking for justice, that's what you find: just us." . Richard Pryor Michelle Alexander was an ACLU attorney in Oakland, preparing a racial profiling lawsuit against the California Highway Patrol. The ACLU had put out a request for anyone who had been profiled to get in touch. One day, in walked this black man. [continues 553 words]
A small group of adults huddled away in the corner of a library talked about marijuana, ecstasy, alcohol and an assortment of other drugs. But they weren't planning on causing any trouble. In fact, they were hoping to prevent trouble from happening to any of their children. "I was really looking for current information," said Randee Farquhar of Shady Shores, noting that a lot has changed in terms of drug awareness since her high school days. Farquhar was one of about a dozen parents who met Friday night in the Crown-over Middle School library for Drug Awareness Parent's Night, in honor of Drug Awareness month and the upcoming Red Ribbon Week. [continues 808 words]
Denton attorney Paul Johnson has come out firing against Denton County District Attorney Bruce Isaacks, who faces the first Republican challenge to his seat since he took office in 1990. "I want to run my office with integrity. I'm a conservative Republican and I will try all types of cases," Johnson said, adding that he believes not all defendants are treated equally by Isaacks. But Isaacks said he believes his record of criminal convictions and money-saving measures for the county proves he should be re-elected district attorney. [continues 1696 words]
I'm writing about: "Border Patrol finds more than 12,000 pounds of pot" (Dec. 24). I'm sure that many marijuana growers, sellers and traffickers are thankful to the U.S. Border Patrol for this latest marijuana bust and others like it. Without operations like this, marijuana would be worth what other easy-to-grow weeds are worth - very little. Thanks to the Drug Enforcement Administration and other so-called "drug warriors," the easy-to-grow weed is worth more than pure gold - and completely tax free. Any marijuana growers, sellers or traffickers arrested will soon be replaced. They always are. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
AUSTIN -- State Senator Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, has filed a package of bills for the 79th Texas Legislature aimed at limiting the essential ingredients for producing methamphetamine and providing stiffer penalties for those who manufacture, deliver or possess it. "The methamphetamine drug culture is, without question, the most pressing crime problem facing our state, and it's time for the Texas Legislature to pass some tough, new laws to fight this serious war," Estes said in a press release. Senate Bill 107 proposes to prohibit over-the-counter sales of single entity forms of the drug's key ingredient, pseudoephedrine tablets, which are ground into powder in the manufacturing process. The bill would still allow for liquid, gel capsule and liquid capsule forms in which it is not the only active ingredient. [continues 168 words]
