PROHIBITION LAWS HAVE ALWAYS TRAGICALLY FAILED

Let me join an increasing number of public officials and concerned citizens
in applauding the recent comments of Judge John Kane Jr. regarding our
nation's disastrous war on drugs.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that what should have been approached
as a public-health problem has eventuated into a tragic loss of life,
liberty and justice.

Look what it has done to our country. The world's greatest experiment in
freedom and liberty has become the prison capital of the world.

While it is easy for those of us making the laws to beat our chests and
pass legislation that is "tough on crime," it is then left to those like
Kane to enforce the legislature's utopian social-engineering schemes. If
only we lawmakers had to seriously face the entanglements we have wrought
with years of ill-advised legislation.

Prohibition-like lawmaking has always been a tragic failure. It not only
fails to achieve its purpose, it leaves a thriving black market and
crumbing civil liberties in its wake. It forces government to wage war on
its own people rather than the substances it purports to destroy.

I applaud Kane for his insight and courage and urge others to follow his lead.

Ross Diercks - Wyoming House of Representatives Cheyenne

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)