COLLEGE LOANS ARE A PRIVILEGE, NOT AN ENTITLEMENT

A recent letter to the editor, "Using student loans to fight drugs is
counterproductive," was beyond ridiculous, even for liberals. What this law
does is let the American people know if you want to do drugs, such as
"smoke a little pot" -- they can roll the dice and take their chances. If
they are convicted, they lose the privilege of being able to obtain federal
loans to help pay for college.

Notice, I said "privilege."

The letter writer then went on a tangent about being punished twice, how
the drug laws are enforced disproportionately, and how 36.8 percent of
those arrested for drug offenses are African-American.

You do not get punished twice. The courts punish you. The privilege of
obtaining a loan is taken away; much like a convicted felon's privilege of
owning a firearm is taken away upon conviction for a felony.

Drug laws are not enforced disproportionately. The writer stated 15 percent
of drug users were black, and 36.8 percent arrested for drug offenses were
black.

All that means is a higher number from the 15 percent are getting caught.

Quit playing the race card.

Nobody cares what color a drug user or dealer is -- just get him or her off
the streets.

What is really bothersome about all this is that this same person who wants
to repeal this law today will tell you with a straight face that Congress
isn't spending enough on the "drug war."

Robert M. Roller Raeford, N.C.

Roller is a staff sergeant in the Air Force who formerly lived in
Huntington. He is a security policeman.