END THE MADNESS

Kevin Metcalfe shot Larry Kuahuia because Kuahuia surreptitiously
entered his property in the middle of the night in order to steal
marijuana. Kuahuia is dead, Metcalfe faces prison for manslaughter,
and the taxpayers are out thousands of dollars in court fees, plus
additional costs, for incarcerating Metcalfe.

Needless to say, this "drug-related" incident wouldn't have happened
if not for the federal government's maniacal refusal to heed the
wishes of those it is charged to serve and protect rather than dominate.

This was just one incident, and it occurred on a tiny corner of a
volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. But it's part of the United
States, and there aren't many people who know how often such tragedies
occur each and every year in our country, and the resulting loss of
life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and tax dollars.

No one has to tell us why murder, rape, assault, corruption,
extortion, drunken driving and theft are illegal. But marijuana use is
illegal because of lies, and it remains illegal for self-serving
government purposes that have nothing to do with sanity or civil
order, and it epitomizes the arrogance of government power.

The war on marijuana is an illegal war against the American people and
the world. It is a war without end and it promotes anarchy. It is a
federal crime that produces civil crime on a massive scale, and if
marijuana were ever to become legal, a dramatic decline in the crime
rate would be a foregone conclusion.

Since the above incident was the direct result of a federal crime, the
federal government should at least pay for the court costs, and if
they have a conscience, they should end the madness.

Fred Bilello

Pahoa