READERS' VIEWS: DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

You may not have heard it, but last week there were police actions that
were designed to take away a right of the American People. Right here in
Pocatello, Idaho.

Last week several people were arrested and private property confiscated by
our government because the merchandise being sold by these people might be
used for smoking marijuana. This would be the same as saying that you are
no longer able to sell or buy firearms because they might be used in an
illegal act.

The merchandise that the government confiscated for the most part was
decorated pipes. I have heard of people who use an old toilet paper roll to
make an impromptu pipe to smoke out of. Who is it up to, to decide what a
decorated pipe is? This would be very subjective since at the time the
merchandise was confiscated none of the pipes involved had been used in an
illegal act. They also confiscated other items at the discretion of the
officers in charge of the raids.

These businesses were licensed by the state of Idaho, by the city of
Pocatello, and all their business was done in the open. These shops were
inspected by the fire department and any other licensing agency that wanted
to inspect them. These businesses paid taxes and were involved in our
community. They followed the regulations that were set down, by our
government as far as how to conduct business even to have an entirely
separate section of the store where you had to be of age and carry ID to
prove it. These stores were not hiding any activity that was going on in
the store.

FYI: People also use those decorated pipes for tobacco and legal herbal
blends. Most people are probably saying to themselves, so what, it doesn't
affect me! Why should I worry - it was just people who sell drug
paraphernalia who are involved. Wrong. It is up to everyone to get involved
because it is our ability to choose as Americans.

One more thing, in a time of budget crunching where there is not enough
money to go around, don't you think that your tax dollars could have been
put to better use?

Leah and Glenn Larsen, Pocatello