TALE OF DRUG DEALER NEGLECTS LARGER PICTURE

In Paul Campos' Feb. 22 column, "When our justice is unjust," he
conveniently passed over the fact that the "largely harmless drug"
marijuana is still illegal. Those who sell it, like Weldon Angeles, know
it, and by carrying a weapon during that process contributes to the violent
culture that destroys lives and neighborhoods, mostly in low-income
communities.

Weldon is not a victim here as Campos would like you to believe. The
victims are the children he sold to who go on to other dangerous drugs, the
neighbors who were robbed to get the money to buy the drugs, the
neighborhoods that can no longer be viable because the middle class moved
out and the poor hide out!

Sure, Angeles got a tough sentence, but his illegal behavior can be a life
sentence and sometimes a death sentence to a community where those like him
ply their trade. Maybe his gang will get the message.

David O'Shea-Dawkins

Denver police officer

Denver