PATRIOT ACT COULD BE USED AGAINST DRUG GANGS

While our politicians continue to bicker about what to do with all
the illegal immigrants pouring over our border, the answer may be
right under their noses.

One side points out the monetary issues of providing health care and
education as well as the increase in crime. The other side focuses
solely on the "rights" of those coming across, calling any criticism
of illegal immigration "racist."

Many entrants are merely trying to provide a better future for their
families (a noble endeavor), but the fact is that the process they
use is still illegal.

What many conveniently forget is the greatest threat to the safety of
our families. As drugs continue to flood into our state and gang
violence increases to the point where people don't dare to venture
outside at night in some parts of our city, it is time to employ the
true intent of the USA Patriot Act aE" to fight and deter terrorism.
And that is what this is: domestic terrorism.

Instead of trying piecemeal legislation to get personal agendas
accomplished, our government needs to pull together, stop the
partisan wrangling and put the needs of Arizonans first. The first
duty of a government is to protect its citizens. They are not doing
that. Crime is not a Republican or Demo-crat issue. It is a people
issue.

Our children are being poisoned by the tremendous amount of drugs
being smuggled into our state and many illegal immigrants are
promoting gang violence. One of the most dangerous gangs is the Mara
Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a gang started by Salvadorans in our prisons.

Many of these gang members have been deported before and continue to
gain entry to our country. As with homegrown gangs such as the
Bloods, Crips and others, the results are the same: drug dealing,
violence and murder.

Our government is supposed to defend us against all enemies, both
foreign and domestic. Anyone whose intent is to harm or destroy
Americans is an enemy. Anyone.

By reclassifying all drug dealers and gang members as domestic
terrorists, the Patriot Act could be utilized to rid our great state
of these thugs. Currently, many of these criminals are being freed
due to loopholes in the law. The Patriot Act would make it easier to
round up and neutralize this destructive group.

Of course, the American Civil Liberties Union and its allies would
decry this as an infringement on the terrorists' "rights."

While the ACLU has done some good in keeping the government at bay in
some instances, it needs to rethink its position on this issue.
Remember, giving aid and comfort to the enemy is a crime, also. It's
called treason.

Whether Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, white,
black, or Hispanic, these are our children we are talking about, our
families; for some, our reason to live.

They are too precious to allow politicians to play games with their
safety. While some love to spout Ben Franklin's quote that those who
are willing to sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither, and
piously ask what good is life without liberty, just remember, what
good is liberty without life?

Bruce P. Murchison is a teacher at Sahuaro High School and an adjunct
instructor in political science at Pima Community College.