DRUG WAR IS A WASTE

Regarding "New Drug Dogs Earn Their Collars" (Metro, June 23):

Bragging about throwing more people into prison for nonviolent "drug
crimes" is especially disgusting considering the fact that the United
States has become the world leader in incarceration because of our
drug crusade.

Using police dogs reminds me of how Nazi SS troopers used German
shepherds to hunt down Jews and many others.

Tampa drug warriors should be ashamed. First, for trying to punish a
crime where there is no injury. Second, for pretending they are doing
the world a service when America's drug war is an utterly
counterproductive policy that causes more crime, disease and death
than any criminal conspiracy by itself could ever accomplish.

Raymond Givens, St. Petersburg