Thank you for publishing letters expressing outrage over the death of
an innocent man who was killed when the Denver police "mistakenly"
stormed his house in a search for drugs. Ismael Mena no longer will be
able to provide the American dream for his family, a dream he worked
hard to secure. He's another casualty in our insane war on drugs.

As in any war, sacrifices are made, and we as a country have
sacrificed much. We have sacrificed our right to due process of law.
We are no longer innocent until proven guilty -- not when the DEA and
co-conspiritor agencies can jail anyone suspected of drug possession,
confiscate their property, sell the property and keep the proceeds.
All prior to conviction or the accused's day in court.

We have sacrificed our right to believe in a punishment that fits the
crime. Not when possession of a small amount of a controlled substance
can result in life or near-life sentences with no chance of parole.

We have sacrificed our right for equal treatment of all people,
regardless of skin color. We can quit pretending we are not
prejudiced. Our legislative bodies have decided that one type of
cocaine is worse than another. And, or course, the "bad" type just
happens to be the type that victimizes an unduly high percentage of
black Americans. Of course, this means black Americans pay an
unreasonable higher cost in jail time, while the country club cocaine
users manage to minimize or evade punishment altogether.

Finally, we have sacrificed our right to feel safe in our own homes
from our own government.

If you think this is overblown, or simply just desserts for drug
users, you may want to think again. The precedent has been set. Now,
when our government deems it necessary, it can suspend the
Constitution and operate under martial law permanently. It is an issue
that the Ismael Menas of our country are dying to address. I only wish
Mr. Mena could speak.

Byron Bergman
Littleton, Colorado