ENFORCE, DON'T HARASS

Regarding the Texada Island pot raid, I am a resident of Texada ["Pot
raid riles residents," August 18]. I am neighbours with Elaine
Purgavie. I am fully aware of Texada's reputation in the marijuana
industry.

Clearly, RCMP Constable Beth Blackburn was unapologetic for the sense
of harassment that residents felt as a result of the enforcement she
speaks for. I'm sure she's very proud to drop words like partners and
Canadian military in the same sentence. Public perception could be
that all that expensive airtime is a waste of taxpayers' money for
what appears to be becoming a barely legal drug. I by no means hold
her responsible for the events on Texada, but a little sensitivity
would be nice. After all, last time I checked, harassment and
enforcement had quite different meanings.

For example:

* Flying directly to a previously identified site in a military
chopper, dropping off RCMP officers and destroying plants is
enforcement.

* Hovering low, directly over an outhouse that a resident's visiting
mother just went out to use, is harassment.

* Hovering low enough to blow the windows out of a house is
harassment.

* Flying at a low altitude repeatedly over open pasture and causing
animals to stampede is harassment.

* Flying over a person's home and garden for an hour is harassment.

I took from Constable Blackburn's bottom line that all Texada
residents darn well deserve the harassment for choosing to live in a
community that tolerates lifestyles not sanctioned by the government.

I think the RCMP is pretty darn lucky to have such easy-going citizens
that they feel they can bully us around like this.

Everyone knows it's illegal. Just take the damn plants and go. Leave
the people alone.

Nadine Nyl

Van Anda