WAR ON DRUGS NEEDS MORE FUNDING

To the Editor:

Henry Brackin's letter Aug. 7 (''Lengthy war on drugs accomplished
nothing'') demands a response to which I would like to say the following:
There are already 44,000 gun laws on the books nationwide.

To make that statement simpler, there are sufficient laws already, if only
these laws would be enforced and the offenders sentenced under those same
laws. While drugs and gangs do go hand in hand, everything possible is
being done to bring this situation under control. However, the previous
administration drastically cut the funding amounts that had been set aside
to fight the ''war on drugs.''

The ''Roaring Twenties'' are 80 years old, and so is the Prohibition.
Prohibition did not work then; it will not work now. The major cause of its
failure was the non-compliance with the law. How would Mr. Brackin suggest
we, as individuals and as a nation, encourage young people to work and earn
their way when all they see is ''the glitter'' from their ill-gotten gains?
These kids don't see any value in working for a living. (Is this caused by
parental failure or by failure of society as a whole?) Legalizing drugs is
not the answer since the dealers would only steal the drugs and sell them
more cheaply to whomever, which is exactly what happened during
Prohibition. Allowing the government to control anything is like letting
the fox guard the henhouse!

The gangs are still present and so are the bootleggers - and so is the
Mafia/syndicate. Lip service has been given to the problem, but no
solutions are offered. When everybody becomes truly involved, then just
maybe this mess will stop.

Bill Deckard

Tiptonville 38079