FORFEITURES INFRINGE ON PROPERTY RIGHTS

Your March 17 articles about confiscation of "drug money" hit on part of
the problem with the black-market drug trade and the war against it, but
it's almost become politically incorrect to be in opposition to any aspect
of the drug war.

Whenever a forfeiture or seizure-reform bill is brought up (Henry Hyde
tried this recently), it is seen as being "soft on drugs." True, there are
dangers inherent with drug use, one of the worst being addiction. But our
society has created another class of addicts - people who get hooked on the
profit potential the drug trade provides.

From the government down to local police operations, the seizure of money
that may or may not have come from the black market is a powerful
intoxicant, which may explain the reluctance to change forfeiture-seizure laws.

In fact, there is an organization that deals with that aspect: Forfeiture
Endangers American Rights (www.fear.org). It's sad that we have to have
such organizations.

Either we have property rights, or we don't.

Keith Rodgers, Springfield