Posted on 11/22/2006 7:35:17 AM PST by Dick Bachert
Atlanta police went to a home on Neal Street in Atlanta last evening to execute a search warrant. When they kicked the door in the only occupant of the home, a 92-year-old woman, started shooting. She hit all three police officers. One in the thigh, one in the arm and another in the shoulder. All police officers will be OK. The woman will not. She was shot and killed by the police.
I'm not blaming the cops here. Not at all. They had a valid search warrant, and they say they were at the right address. Shots were fired, three cops hit, and they returned fire. A 92-year-old woman who was so afraid of crime in her neighborhood that she had burglar bars on every door and window, is now dead.
The blame lies on this idiotic drug war we're waging. We have all the studies we need, all of the comprehensive data is in. We can do a much more effective job of reducing drug use in this country if we'll just take a portion of this money we spend for law enforcement and spend it on treatment programs. A Rand study showed that we can reduce illicit drug usage in this country a specified amount through treatment programs at about 10% of the cost of reducing drug usage by that same amount through criminalization and law enforcement.
There's just something in the American psyche that demands that drug users be punished instead of treated and rehabilitated. We think they're stupid and ignorant for getting mixed up with those drugs in the first place. And you know what? We're right? But look at the messages we send to our children every single day with cigarettes, alcohol, and an endless stream of drug ads on television and in magazines. Drug culture? You bet we have.
Excellent post Zon, and it sums up my arguments for legalizing these drugs.
"Neal has never said he wasn't a partisan."
Hence my issue: if you knew nothing about Neal Boortz and what he stands for and you read this, you would be led to believe that shooting 92-year old women is a daily occurrance in the United States and it's all simply because the government wants to take away your "right" to pollute your body, and ultimately, society, with illicit substances.
But the criminal isn't a criminal until he's apprehended, hence all the same excess Boortz seemingly doesn't like.
So a person that mugs you isn't a criminal unless he is apprehended?
Huck: LOL. Cuz junkies first and foremost concern is their job security. Most jobs NOW don't tolerate junkies. That's why junkies do crimes, duh. 46
LOL -- So often you see alcoholics doing crimes to get their next fifth of whiskey because it's so expensive.157
I say "particularly their own use" because the majority of self-professed Libertarians that I'm familiar with ARE recreational drug users. And the WOD is their NUMBER ONE complaint; not high taxes, not the War in Iraq, but the rising price and shrinking availability of their drug of choice.
Perhaps I have painted with a broiad brush, and if I did, I apologize.
As for drinking, it's legal.
Corpse, if I were ot ever beat my wife (perish the thougt!) I would hope there was a cop out there willing to break a door down in order to save her life.
As for the statement about beating my wife, I know it was intended as an insult, which is sad. That's usually the last resort of the man who cannot support his argument and has given up.
For now. The lifestyle nazis will get around to it after they're finished suing Burger King out of business.
The drug war is a failure all it does it up the prices that the drug lords in countries that hate us are able to charge. Probably better to make it legal to sell drugs but illegal to take them or more likely illegal to be on them in public. We tried this with alcohol and it didnt work for that either.
On these types of raids? There is at least one thread a week of just such an occurance. An old woman. Old man. Wrong house. More than enough to be alarming without breaching the "one a day" threshhold you seem to believe appropriate. For me, one a YEAR is too many.
And yes, it's my body. I don't personally do drugs, but that isn't any of your G*dd*mn business either. Nor is it the governments. Unless you can show a Constitutional power given to the FedGov to mandate what a person can and cannot ingest? No, I didn't think so...
Can't diagree with you Red. I know the perpetually-panty-buched-self-appointed-hall-monitors-of-American-society would like to make this a dry nation.
But there's a big difference between legal alcohol and legal black-tar heroin.
Not an insult, an illustration as to how far off your idiotic strawman was. If I were to insult you, you'd know it you malodorous, toffee nosed, pervert.
"But there's a big difference between legal alcohol and legal black-tar heroin.
Agreed.
And By the way I dont do any illegal drugs ever and wouldnt want to no matter what the law stated.
Perhaps you should associate with a better class of loser, my friend.
"Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws."
Indonesia does not enforce Sharia law. Though some of the provinces are starting to, as we speak.
Maybe you should read some newspapers instead of Ayn Rand.
Witness those fine folks at MADD that want a breathalyzer in every car sold. How can you criticize MADD?? Ann Coulter made an excellent point about victim advocacy.
"An old woman. Old man. Wrong house. "
Not to mention all the Cop Shoots Dog stories.
Even when it's the wrong house, they still shoot the dog! Why do they always shoot the dog?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.