Posted on 05/15/2003 10:07:28 PM PDT by Havoc
The sound of a grenade is not something one is exposed to on a daily basis. I heard my first one earlier this evening as I browsed the web. I opened my front door to investigate and found my block covered in red and blue lights and well armed policemen.
Mostly hovering a few doors down, a major drug bust was happening. I put on a pot of coffee and went outside to peruse the goings on. Swat had been called in and enough squad cars to effectively shut down the entire block. The words "Search warrant for 1010" rang out over the police P.A. for about 5 minutes while the home was surrounded and subsequently invaded.
I stood on my lawn for a while just watching. In the night air, I found it necessary to go after my jacket, smokes and some of the fresh brewed coffee that I was sure was ready by this time. Neighbors gathered in my yard and we chatted with the officer standing perimeter nearby. You've never seen people so happy to see police doing their job, nor officers happy enough to be doing it.
This neighborhood and my street in particular has had a great deal of traffic for a 'quiet' part of town. It appears quiet to the unknowing. But when the traffic begins, people stay inside. A neighbor's boy had been shot in his own yard then dragged in his house and robbed some time ago. "They come to your door, knock, put a gun in your face and rob you" one neighbor stated. "Everyone's afraid. It's good they're doing this.."
The effects were immediately noteable. Others on the block stood complaining and perhaps wondering when the explosion at their door would come - followed by the serving of a warrant. One can hope it will be sooner than they can prepare for. The police were professional and handled the situation well. A force to be proud of.
It was a drug bust. I was a spectator rather than a journalist; so, I didn't get the numbers, merely the reaction and the general view. And I made a friend. I talked for a while with an officer on the street and found we knew some of the same people. We graduated two years apart and from the same school. This is a guy not even working narcotics - just there to lend a hand. And did a good job IMO.
As swat prepared to leave, vehicles that regularly visited our street only for a few minutes at a time rolled up on the scene, did abrupt u-turns and sped off. Time to go finish dinner.
As I sat at my computer once again trying to enjoy my steak, "Booom". Another concussion grenaide. Hooaah. I put my contacts back in, got my gear back on and found my new friend standing perimeter again. A few more houses down, the floor was littered with bodies in cuffs face down on the floor while swat secured the location and detectives moved in. Nice time to chat and get to know the officer better. Great guy - hope I see him again when I can buy him a cup of joe. He turned down fresh brewed at about 10:30 - "I gotta sleep sometime tonight," he grinned. understandable.
The scene has cleared now and no shots fired - no injuries other than prides of those who have dealt drugs and terror to the neighborhood seemingly without challenge up to now. They aren't the only ones and I doubt they'll be the last. I know little of the goings on other than instincts and what I've heard from the neighbors. Tonight I learned more about my surroundings than I thought I could in 4 hours. And I reinforced my understanding of just how screwed in the head libertarians are on this subject. They see a "harmless drug" and discount the damage done by those who push them. But then, one defends what one generally likes despite the protestations that they don't use.
Because of the actions of a lot of cops just doing their duty, a lot of good people are breathing and sleeping easier tonight. Hats off to KPD! The war on drugs came to my street tonight. And I'm glad it was here - though I'm sure some will attempt to disposess me of the notion that these druggies are bad. The real bad guys are the boys in blue, they'd proffer. Patent nonsense, the real bad guys are the druggies and those who enable them and rally to their cause. I wonder how many libertarians and democrats went to jail tonight.. I too will rest easy.
You're still jealous that my tag line made the FR Tagline Hall of Fame, eh? :-)
BTW, did you like my new profile page?
Including Jeb and G.W. Bush's daughters?
Huh, Jeb's daughter Noelle(just say noelle, ha, ha, ha,) is basically isolated on an island, a drug treatment center.
As for GW's daughters, I guess the word of a Hollywood knucklehead, don't care or know his name and I believe he is some "star" of some minor show, is the word of god.
Whoops, I forgot the source was Rolling Stone "magazine", that publication apparently is the word of god to you.
Thanks for posting on this thread jmc, you are outing yourself as a one issue lefty(anarchistic) Libertarian(albeit a weasly word one) with every post, IMO.
There is no governmental solution to the problem of people messing up their lives with recreational substances. Relegalize so that those who want to be helped can openly seek it and those who don't can destroy themselves with less effect on us.
Provide evidence for your claim.
The only change to the drug laws that I would like to see is, if you are a dealer you are executed once convicted.
That wouldn't make a significant difference. Dealers now face an imminent threat of death from competitors or twitchy customers, yet they continue dealing, and when one dies or is arrested another springs up to take his place.
But hardly a "desert" island.
And damn the consequences by those, who destroy themselves and innocent bystanders.
Oh that's right, sorry, those who destroy themselves never ever harm innocent people in your perfect world.
Nevermind, go on verbally contemplating your Libertarian shangri-la.
You're referring to DUI and the like? If that were a valid reason to ban a substance, we'd ban alcohol too---but we haven't, so it isn't.
If the destruction you envision constitutes a crime, put them in jail. Kinda like what happens now.
Oh that's right, sorry, those who destroy themselves never ever harm innocent people in your perfect world.
Sure, they do, and if that harm constitutes a crime, put them in jail. Kinda like what we do now.
Nevermind, go on verbally contemplating your Libertarian shangri-la.
The only Shangri-La being contemplated is the one that foresees an end to the desire some people have to be intoxicated with non-state-approved substances. In fact, the only difference between Mr. LeRoy's "imaginary" world and the one that exists now is that people won't go to prison for mere possession and dealing.
With freedom comes risk
Not according to your comrade Leroy with this phrase from his reply #406.
Relegalize so that those who want to be helped can openly seek it and those who don't can destroy themselves with less effect on us
According to LeRoy not one innocent person will be harmed by the personal destruction of one person.
I beg to differ.
In this country we have a funny idea that the punishment should be proportionate to the crime.
Yeah, it's tough, but these losers have sucked off the public teat long enough
Every single drug user has sucked off the public teat? Does that include all users of the deadly addictive drug alcohol?
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