ZERO TOLERANCE EQUALS ZERO CONTROL

IN HIS May 14 column ("Political rants ... and raves"), John Downing asked,
"Is there really law and order in this city when the police can't stop just
one building for one night from being a haven for drugs?" Given that we
cannot keep drugs out of our maximum security prisons, we should not blame
the police for failing to keep drugs out of raves. Just as enthusiasts will
attend raves, with or without supervision, drug users will obtain drugs,
with or without a legal, regulated supply. Banning raves and prohibiting
drugs are the parental equivalent of kicking a teenager out of the house.
As counter-intuitive as it may seem, zero tolerance equals zero control.

Matthew M. Elrod

Victoria, B.C.

(Giving up by giving in isn't good parenting either)