WAR ON DRUGS

In response to the recent letter on the "drug trade," the author has two
correct premises: 1) the ingestion of illegal drugs is harmful; and 2) the
drug trade can be profitable to criminals. Unfortunately, that's where
reality ends and fantasy begins.

Taking "drug war" to mean anti-narcotic legislation and its enforcement, it
can only be considered "unconstitutional" insofar that the president's
Cabinet (which Washington established), the Louisiana Purchase (which
Jefferson defended until his death), and statutory laws prohibiting armed
robbery, rape and murder are unconstitutional by their omission from the same.

As a society and nation, we must unequivocally decide whether or not we are
really prepared to do all that is necessary to enforce the current drug laws.

While there is no constitutional mandate to be consistent, the solvency and
integrity of our necessary laws must not be weakened by half-measures in
enforcement and half-resolve on part of the public. We must either dedicate
ourselves to extreme and/or innovative ways to the cause of illegal drug
eradication in our country, or relax, repeal, and face the dire consequences.

The consequences are a nation with even fewer moral taboos, and the crime
that will inevitable follow with the influx of 2 million criminals back
into our community. Those with the habit will continue to do whatever is
necessary to maintain and escalate. You decide whether the drug war should
do the same, then write to your legislators.

JOSEPH L. CHANDLER Isle of Palms