AN INSANE WAR

The recent killing of Troy James Davis, 25, by the North Richland Hills
police should compel us as a society to focus on the insane "war on drugs."

Apparently the police legally killed an individual over what is essentially
a misdemeanor violation. The police received a tip that marijuana was being
grown at the Davis family's North Richland Hills home. The sensible response
would be to send an officer to investigate the rumor, and if it were found
to be true, to issue a citation. A conviction would have, in all
probability, resulted in a small fine. This is the law.

Instead, the police obtained a no-knock search warrant, assembled a 17-man,
heavily armed assault force, kicked in the front door and confronted an
individual with a gun. This in itself is the recipe for disaster, which is
exactly what happened.

One of the officers involved apparently feared for his life and opened fire
on the armed occupant, killing him.

What has this senseless war accomplished? Apparently very little, as the use
of drugs remains at about the same level as always. The only way to fight
and win a war on drugs is to focus on prevention. Instead, we focus on
harsh, senseless enforcement.

The end result is sometimes excesses that result in the unnecessary killing
of an individual.

Joe A. Moake, Bedford