UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE

A headline in the Feb. 17 paper asks the question, "What went wrong?"
regarding the tragic death of Sheriff Deputy Kevin Ruiz. The answer? It was
one of the unintended consequences of a drug war that claims lives in its
deadly pursuit of a war on people's choices. Even if it is not a right
choice, does someone have to die because of it? We now have two Austin
families who are suffering the loss of their sons, husbands, and fathers.
What a terrible waste.

It is time to rethink the policies that have allowed this kind of thing to
happen. Reducing the harm caused by drugs is worthy. But that quest would
be better served by dealing with it in the medical and social realms of our
society, not in the battering rams of narcotic forces.

KAREN HEIKKALA

Austin