Drug War: Interview with a Police Officer

The Sierra Times ^ | 03. 5. 03 | M. Simon

[MrLeRoy]

Wod_list ping

[robertpaulsen]

The Sierra Times is funded by the North Bridge Training Institute. The Director is David Rostcheck.

Mr. Rostcheck "received much of my formal activist training as an activist and leader in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) rights movement, working to secure equal justice under the law for all members of society."

In addition, Mr. Rostcheck "also joined the Libertarian Party as a political activist, working to restore knowledge of liberty and natural rights to the American people."

Just thought you should know.

[FreeLibertarian]

Excellent Article.

I pray that sanity will finally end the misnamed War On Drugs before it destroys America.

[MrLeRoy]

Just thought you should know.

Why? What bearing does that have on Constable Gayder's views?

[Pahuanui]

In addition, Mr. Rostcheck "also joined the Libertarian Party as a political activist, working to restore knowledge of liberty and natural rights to the American people."

Oh, the horror!

[dirtboy]

Just thought you should know.

Why? What bearing does that have on Constable Gayder's views?

Nothing whatsoever, but playing six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon/sliming by association worked for the Clintons, so other people of low character somehow feel compelled to try it also.

[Terriergal]

Canadian police officer

'nuff said.

We have police that are for gun control too.

[MrLeRoy]

Canadian police officer

'nuff said.

... about your reliance on ad hominem, yes.

[clamper1797]

Mr. Rostcheck ...blah blah blah (continued uncalled for character assasination rant)

So .... what's your point

[MrLeRoy]

"stealth post" test

[thoughtomator]

"Who the hell is society to tell people what they can or cant do to themselves, so long as they don't hurt others?" Got a snappy answer to this one?

[Terriergal]

Of course, I was speaking tongue in cheek there. (anti WOD people have no sense of humor).

You did neglect the next part which implies I could post an article by a police officer (a Canadian police officer even) that is anti-gun and you wouldn't support it.

The article seems to hold up "police officer" as if that makes his arguments for the legalization of drugs more potent. It doesn't.

[Terriergal]

"Who the hell is society to tell people what they can or cant do to themselves, so long as they don't hurt others?" Got a snappy answer to this one?

Define "hurting others."

[Terriergal]

Oh gosh. Ad hominems! ;-)

[Terriergal]

Or shall we call it "guilt by association"? ;-)

[MrLeRoy]

The article seems to hold up "police officer" as if that makes his arguments for the legalization of drugs more potent. It doesn't.

I agree---but I think it's worth emphasizing to the all-WOD-opponents-are-stoners crowd that many police officers recognize the grave defects of drug bans.

[thoughtomator]

I'd define 'hurting others' as: 'To damage or injure the person or property of another human being'.

[thoughtomator]

I remember talking to an officer in NYC about 10 years ago about the WoD - he said it was the worst part of his job, that it was futile, ridiculous, and useless to enforce the drug laws, and that it ate up a huge amount of time he'd rather be using to protect the citizens of the city.

[Terriergal]

What about lost wages, dangerous driving, etc. etc? It seems a very difficult thing to define.

If we can't clearly define this, legalizing drugs will never work. It will also never work until our system actually makes people pay for their crimes. If you legalize drugs before those things are working, you are only asking for trouble. I understand what you guys are getting at, and I sympathize with your point of view, but I think the other things have to happen first.