DRUG DOGS UNLEASH CONTROVERSY

The recent decision by the Abbotsford school board to allow drug-sniffing
dogs into local schools has prompted heated response from both sides of the
issue. Read on:

Editor, The News:

Re: "Drug-sniffing dogs in schools gets board's unanimous approval" (The
News, Thursday, Nov. 25).

Kids shouldn't be using drugs, but it is no wonder that so many kids are
doing it these days.

Adults lie to them about drugs, then treat them like prisoners in their own
schools. Worse yet, we enslave the noble canine to infringe upon the rights
and freedoms of our children.

Why stop at drug-sniffing dogs? Why not just make them pass a urine test
every morning: "Pee in the cup, Junior, or you don't get to learn anything
today."

Abbotsford school trustees should be ashamed of themselves. If this country
would spend as much time, money and effort teaching kids the truth about
drugs, instead of "Just Say No" propaganda, there wouldn't be a "drug problem."

Furthermore, if all drugs were legalized and regulated, kids wouldn't be
buying drugs from other kids in playgrounds; they would need a valid ID to
buy it at the store.

By not legalizing and regulating drugs like tobacco and alcohol, our
government, courts, schools, and police are knowingly and deliberately
subsidizing organized crime.

They are making people paranoid about their neighbours, making drugs easier
for teens to access than alcohol and tobacco, wasting billions on a failed
policy, and endangering Canadians.

They are also keeping billions more in potential annual tax revenue away
from Canadians and putting it directly into the underground economy,
instead of education and health care.

It leads me to wonder just which side of the law they are really on.

Russell Barth

Educators For A Sensible Drug Policy

Ottawa