DRUG WAR

To The Editor:

I realize the current drug war is a controversy not only in this county but
throughout the whole nation. There is a reason for these feelings;
primarily because people just don't know if it's right anymore. I know we
have been waging this war against the people for over 30 years.

For some of us it's been our entire lives. I don't think the government has
all the answers to this problem.

There are certain facts our government can't refute.

1. The majority of drug offenders in prison are black and Hispanic. This
indicates the police are targeting our streets for a specific profile.
Families of these incarcerated people are suffering while the big drug lords
are getting away.

2. The 4th amendement which protects us from unreasonable search and
seizures has been severely weakened by get tough drug laws and Supreme Court
decisions. Do we want to live in a police state?

3. Most of the cocaine and heroin on our nation's streets is coming from
Columbia which has been nearly impossible to prevent seeping through our
borders. Why? The money. Money in most cases is the driving force behind
drug smuggling and the Columbian economy. Now, in a desperate attempt to
stop the drug flow the government is considering sending troops to Columbia,
a country being torn apart by Civil War and a potential disaster for our
young men and women. Should we allow this to happen?

4. And last, no facts are needed for this; some people are going to do drugs
no matter what the cost to themselves or their family.

Given all the controversy behind the drug war this is the reason why there
are groups such as ReconsiDer, NORML, Drug Policy Foundation, FAMM, and the
Corrections Association to name a few who are questioning the drug war.

These groups are made up of judges, clergy, officers, addiction
psychologist, former addicts, elderly and many more walks of life. Together
they have one common goal with a different mission statement: To lobby our
government and have an open and honest debate regarding our current drug
policies.

We the people are the government and it is within our first amendment right
to form any group we choose to help make our homes and community a better
place to raise our children. There are people out there who have committed
their lives to ending the drug war regardless of what some may call them. In
closing, I wish success to all the groups who have formed, and for those
brave enough to stand up for what they believe.

Joanne Monnet