DON'T HASSLE THOSE WITH DRUGS OR GUNS

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

The article, "Courthouse Contraband," indicates what is wrong with our
society. We seem to have a need to make everyone a criminal whether he has
harmed anyone or not. Our public servants are suspicious and condescending
to the ordinary citizen.

We need to take a more libertarian approach. We should not make people
criminals until they have harmed another. Also, our public servants need to
be respectful to the ordinary citizen.

So a person comes into the courthouse with bags of cocaine and marijuana.
Whom is he harming? Why should his life now be ruined and forever stained
with a criminal record?

The answer: He harmed no one and there is no good reason to make him a
criminal.

For the people carrying weapons (from fingernail clippers to handguns and
everything in between), the same holds true. Until they actually threaten
someone with the weapon, there is no reason to take it.

Making all of these items contraband is nothing more than governmental
arrogance. The people in the courthouse are our servants and they should
not harass us by searching us. There are plenty of police in the
courthouse, and they can certainty subdue someone who becomes violent. They
should leave the rest of us alone.

Leonard T. Harris

Glen Allen