LOSING THE DRUG WAR

Re: Dec. 3 editorial "Death on the border."

The first paragraph of the editorial said "The mass graves near the Texas
border illustrate the deadly repercussions of the drug trade and the urgent
need for U.S. and Mexican officials to join forces to stop narcotics
trafficking." The absolute opposite is true. The fact that the drug trade
is illegal is why those people died. If the drug trade were legal, then
nobody would be risking prosecution, therefore, there would be no need to
kill anybody over drug trafficking. Remember the failed prohibition of
alcohol? The same thing is happening here.

The war on drugs has claimed too many lives. Too much money has been spent
on narcotics law enforcement, prosecution and incarceration. The joint
effort between the United States and Mexican officials means the U.S.
pouring money into the Mexican black hole. Just think, corrupt Mexican
officials will not only be getting paid by drug traffickers, they will also
be getting paid by the U.S. law enforcement. Pretty sweet, ain't it?

The war on drugs may be well-intentioned, but it is futile to legislate
morality or pass laws to protect people from themselves.