JUST ANOTHER VICTIM

Editor:

Thanks for running Nate Blakeslee's "Zero Tolerance Takes Toll in Hays
County." ["Drug Warriors," Nov. 5] Unless a drug can effectively be used as
a weapon, there is no clear and present danger, and cops should not be
executing no-knock warrants (not to mention suspects). Rusty Windle
obviously didn't deserve to be gunned down for delivering small amounts of
cannabis to a paid informant. To the contrary, I suspect he was entrapped.
But now he's dead, so the cops won't have to worry about him trying to
defend his actions in front of a jury.

Militant drug prohibition causes violence. Nothing the prohibitionists say
or do can change that. If you wish to defend such policies, look up the
fates of a few righteous citizens first. Rusty Windle's death is not
unprecedented, and it isn't even one of the most outrageous homicides
perpetrated by drug warriors. Search for Mario Paz, and you will learn that
the LAPD shot him in the back while he was unarmed. Ezekiel Hernandez was
sniped by Marines. And Donald Scott was killed by a multi-agency task force
hoping to confiscate his land using our corrupt forfeiture laws.

Danny Terwey
Santa Cruz, Calif.