Chattanooga Officer Fired For Falsifying Drug Dog Certificates

Tennesean ^ | August 17, 2003

[MrLeRoy]

Who (apart from children neglected due to a parent's drug abuse) is an unwilling victim of drugs?

[robertpaulsen]

I object to the word victim if you're going to limit the definition to those directly injured.

Drugs, like terrorism, affect more people than those directly involved. But I guess since you weren't directly injured by 9-11, you have no feelings about it. It doesn't affect you. It doesn't concern you.

Because of that, I would also guess that you couldn't relate to the indirect victims created by drugs.

[MrLeRoy]

Drugs, like terrorism, affect more people than those directly involved.

Almost every action you take "affects" someone; if "effect" is the test of whether governmental involvement is proper, you have precious little freedom left. The proper test is whether rights are violated---which they are not by drug sales or use.

[robertpaulsen]

"The proper test is whether rights are violated"

Or might be violated, yes?

I mean, if I engaged in an activity which may harm me or others, it's perfectly acceptable to you to have laws governing that behavior.

As long as we don't include your precious drugs, right?

[MrLeRoy]

"The proper test is whether rights are violated"

Or might be violated, yes?

I mean, if I engaged in an activity which may harm me or others, it's perfectly acceptable to you to have laws governing that behavior.

Placing a person at risk of harm is an actual, not just potential, violation of their rights.

As long as we don't include your precious drugs, right?

Drugs are not "precious" to me, strawbeater---freedom is. I know of no drug whose use in and of itself places others at risk---although alcohol, as a violence-increaser, is a likelier candidate for that designation than most illegal drugs.