REVERTING TO THE ABSURD

Re: Ignorance is always bliss, Letters, March 28

Once again, someone drags up the old reductio ad absurdum (reduction
to the absurd) argument to argue against legalizing drugs, "We can
eliminate all the "illegal problems" with the same mentality. Make it
all legal. Legalize bank robbing, murder, rape, pillage, etc. and,
poof, all the problems are solved. Absolutely ingenious."

Three points:

1. Punishing people for what they do to themselves, such as ingesting
certain drugs, is to deform the purpose of criminal law which by
rights should only be used to punish those who DIRECTLY harm others.
Punishing people who participate in activities the majority
disapproves of could well lead to prison terms for those who pick
their noses or decline to help old women across the street.

2. If punishing the users and suppliers of using some supposedly
harmful drugs is OK, why not at least be logical and punish those who
use or supply ANY harmful drug, including alcohol and tobacco?.

3. Prohibition doesn't work. Never has. Never will.

ALAN RANDELL

Victoria