DRUG POLICY KEEPS PRISON INDUSTRY IN BUSINESS

Kudos to Ronald Fraser for his outstanding July 26 column, "Save
prisons for those who belong there; save money" (July 26). Prison
space should be for those who harm others against their will. Drug
users and sellers harm nobody against their will. Many judges and
prison wardens have said that 70 to 80 percent of all property crime
and violent crime is "drug-related." Actually, almost 100 percent of
all so-called "drug-related crime" is caused by drug prohibition
policies - not drugs.

When Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine and sold for 5
cents a bottle, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither
did drug lords, drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know them today.

Many currently employed in law enforcement are opposed to the idea of
re-legalizing all types of recreational drugs. That's because if
drugs were re-legalized, we would need far fewer law enforcement
personnel, far fewer prison guards and no prison builders.

Thus, many now employed in law enforcement and the prison industry
would be looking for a job or washing cars for a living.

Of course, those opposed to re-legalizing drugs because it would
affect their livelihood will not say so. Instead, they will cite
noble reasons such as "protecting the children."

As if the current policies are protecting children from drugs.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.