BONGS AWAY

In John Husby's news story (2/27), he failed to mention two important
reasons that were key to Operation Pipe Dream. A lot of these stores'
merchandise was to have found its way into the hands of children. And
last time I checked, not much other than marijuana was smoked in bongs
anyway (the main focus of the sting, not just glass).

Glass "art" is something that I myself own, but bongs are not "art."
They remain paraphernalia no matter how you shape it. A gun is a gun
is a gun, not metal "art."

And what is the new interpretation? Marijuana, no matter how freely
you think you should be able to smoke it, is still illegal and for a
good reason. Marijuana is a problem among children under 18 (which
account for 19 percent of "consumption"), and is a problem for anybody
in this country because, oh yeah, it's still illegal.

And just because they have a sign in the window does not negate them
of their responsibility. They are a business putting out a product
that has the potential to hurt people, thus they have a responsibility
to their consumers. Why do you think McDonald's stopped giving toys
with small parts to infants? They realized there was a problem. Even
gun manufacturers are responsible for their products.

And most people can smoke pot out of a can or a paper, but it is still
the main way to smoke it out of a bong (which is made of glass).

As for the profiling, the majority of stores targeted were found to
have had their merchandise in the hands of children.

James Ready, Springfield