Coalition Wants New York Drug Law Repealed

REUTERS ^

[WaveThatFlag]

Politicians, civil rights groups and rappers on Thursday demanded the repeal of laws in New York that impose mandatory stiff prison terms for possession or sales of small amounts of illegal drugs.

'It makes no sense to keep drug offenders behind bars when the state has an $11 billion deficit,' former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said at an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the drug laws.

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Cuomo, who sought the Democratic nomination for governor in the last election, said it costs taxpayers $610 million a year to hold some 22,000 non-violent drug offenders in prison.

Known as the 'Rockefeller' drug laws, they were enacted in 1973 when Nelson Rockefeller, a Republican, was governor. In general, the laws require judges to impose a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for anyone convicted of selling two ounces, or possessing four ounces, of an illegal narcotic such as cocaine or heroin.

Critics of the laws say many of those convicted would be better off in rehabilitation facilities -- an option they say is cheaper and more productive than prison.

'We want to create an awareness campaign so that people know that the law has to be repealed,' said Russell Simmons, chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.

The coalition called on Gov. George Pataki to repeal the laws -- a notion that has garnered broad support in New York from Republicans as well as Democrats for years.

But despite that backing, the issue is a political hot potato because no politician wants to be seen as soft on crime. Also, prisons are a boon to many local economies across the state and a repeal of the law would mean fewer prisons.

Another obstacle is the political clout of the state's 62 district attorneys, who oppose major changes to the laws.

Hundreds of mothers carried placards detailing their sons' incarceration and joined a march on Pataki's mid-town office.

Rev. Al Sharpton, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, said, 'This is not about decriminalizing drugs but non-violent offenders should not be given life sentences for minor offenses.'

Black and Latino leaders call the law discriminatory because 94 percent of those sentenced under the statutes come from their communities despite the fact that drug use is in the same proportions across racial and ethnic lines.

[jmc813]

I must give you credit, though. That last post has qualified for the "fan mail" section of the new FR profile page I'm making. I'll ping you to it when it's done.

[PaxMacian]

Would you have taken a Jew to the train for not wearing the star of David had you lived in Germany during WWII because it was the law? Would you have dragged Rosa Parks from the bus yourself because it was the law? I could go on...

[WaveThatFlag]

Tell someone who cares.

[jmc813]

Somebody's in a cranky mood today.

[WaveThatFlag]

Nothing personal. I just have zero patience for Libertarian "Creative Logic." Kindly keep it to yourself and we'll get along swimmingly.

[Wolfie]

Sounds like this could be fun. Bump for later, when I can sit back with a joint and enjoy the show.

[PaxMacian]

Since you're averse to logic, lets start with a couple quotes from a founding father and move on to some real law of the land.

"When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny." --Thomas Jefferson

"I have sworn upon the altar of Almighty God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."--Thomas Jefferson

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Preamble: ...secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity...

Amendment V: nor shall (anyone) be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the PEOPLE.

Amendment X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the PEOPLE.

[WaveThatFlag]

"promote the general welfare," and "insure domestic tranquility" are not preamble.

[PaxMacian]

"promote the general welfare," and "insure domestic tranquility" are not preamble.

'Promote' does not mean impose a singular perspective of welfare upon all at the expense of liberty.  Insuring domestic tranquility could be achieved by simply sedating everyone, (SOMA for all), but that is certainly not what was intended.  On the other hand, few are more tranquil than herb tokers.  The three little dots at the beginning of my quotation are there for a reason.  I intended to imply that the primary clause is that which insures liberty.

[WaveThatFlag]

I guess it does since that's how the SCOTUS has chosen to interpret it up til now. File your grievance with them if you like.

[PaxMacian]

"Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period, and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers (adminstrators) too plainly proves a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing us to slavery." --Thomas Jefferson

Given that felony possession charges remove voting rights from primarily minorities a new system of slavery is evolving out of the tyranny of the majority raised by fascist masked thugs and weaned on ignorance and intolerance.

[PaxMacian]

RE-LEGALIZE

[philman_36]

Talk amongst yourselves, nut jobs.
Since you flagged me I'll address you.
Actually, I have nothing to say to you yet your slight deserves a response so...here 'tis...
You're getting yourself trounced early on and are left with nothing but your name calling for an argument.
Keep it up...you're really winning, and so effectively at that.
(and he thinks I'm a nutjob...HA)

[philman_36]

...nut jobs...
...nutjobs...
Is it one word or two?

[WaveThatFlag]

Actually, since drugs remain illegal, I'm winning AND having a good time getting you stoners all riled up.

[MrLeRoy]

since drugs remain illegal, I'm winning

Winning what?

[MrLeRoy]

"The coalition called on Gov. George Pataki to repeal the laws -- a notion that has garnered broad support in New York from Republicans as well as Democrats for years."

[WaveThatFlag]

I'm winning the debate. Feel free to enjoy your drugs illegally, but get out of the habit of bending over to pick up the soap.

[MrLeRoy]

since drugs remain illegal, I'm winning

Winning what?

I'm winning the debate.

The continued illegality of drugs has no bearing on whether you're winning the debate. You want to win the debate, rebut the following:

By relegalizing drugs, we'd reduce the following effects of the War On Some Drugs: deaths of innocents in drug-turf wars; deaths of users due to impurities or unexpectedly high potencies; enrichment of criminals; corruption of the justice system by enriched criminals; and lessened respect for the law in general.

Not to mention upholding the principle that adults should be free to make their own non-rights-violating choices (even if the choices they make are stupid).

Feel free to enjoy your drugs illegally

I use no drugs, including the deadly addictive drugs alcohol and tobacco.

[WaveThatFlag]

The Libertarian supposition that adults should be free to make their own non-rights-violating choices is naive and short-sighted.

I use no drugs, including the deadly addictive drugs alcohol and tobacco.

Of course not. None of you guys use drugs. Your reverence for the writings of Tomas Paine compells you to spend a great deal of time advocating legalized drugs. Riiiiight.