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.
That is a lie.
No problem. I enjoy keeping my fans happy with my writings.
you are outing yourself as a one issue
Every time I show up on the Assault Weapons Ban threads and speak my mind, you call me a one issue (guns) malcontent. What is it? Am I a one-issue druggie, a one-issue gun-nut, or a two-issue guy?
Libertarian
Why do you keep insisting that I am a Libertarian? Go read my profile page for my thoughts on the Libertarian Party (Some of your prose is featured on it too).
In other words, your above passage covertly suggests that "drug laws" are fascist.
JMO, but here is little difference between you and the Texas Chicken demorats. Both of you hate the will of the people and try to muck up the system, IMO.
Why do you persist in mischaracterizing people's statements? There are only two possible reasons I can think of, and both of them reflect badly on you.
I don't follow. Please explain.
JMO, but here is little difference between you and the Texas Chicken demorats. Both of you hate the will of the people and try to muck up the system, IMO.
Are "JMO" and "IMO" your clever attempts to make your insults and slander more seemly?
Uh dude here is a paassage from LeRoy's reply #406.
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
Sorry but LeRoy thinks that letting people destroy themselves will have no ill effect on innocent people.
It is right there in black and white.
I know, I know, you all will be badgering me and dodging endlessly trying to explain away LeRoy's reply #406, but the point remains, no matter all your LeRoy defense of "ignore the person behind the curtain" Libertarian rhetoric.
Then where are the gang wars over alcohol? Can you show me the neighborhoods ruined by moonshiners? You can't, of course, because after we ended alcohol prohibition obscene black market profits from its sale were no longer possible.
There are profits of 2000% and higher to be made in selling illegal drugs. When the products become legal--prices sensible--the infrastructure that produces the crime you experienced will evaporate.
Sorry but LeRoy thinks that letting people destroy themselves will have no ill effect on innocent people.
It is right there in black and white.
Wrong---but thanks for coming clean with your reading comprehension problems.
So when the "will of the people" elected Klintoon twice, you loved it?
In other words, you don't know any way to argue except to re-translate someone's direct statements into whatever "In other words" strawman suits your purposes.
JMO.
Sorry but LeRoy thinks that letting people destroy themselves will have no ill effect on innocent people.
It is right there in black and white.
Yes, it sure is.
Uh wrong there Chong dude, in your reply #406 you specifically stated that,
those who don't can destroy themselves with less effect on us
thus stating that the more people who destroy themselves, the less effect on innocent people.
Using your logic everybody would be destroying themselves. Sorry but you can count me out.
Again, why do you persist in mischaracterizing other people's statements? Either you're dishonest or stupid, unless you have some other explanation.
LOL! Going according to plan per my reply #428 for you and LeRoy.
You pro-drug Libertarians, like the daschle and Texas Chicken dems, are very predictable.
bryan24, did you ever consider the WoD is being used to delve deeper and deeper into our personal liberties?... seems to me, most of the violence is among competitors for the market share, rather than from the users.... yes users may destroy their lives and the lives of their loved ones, but there are means to get treatment and to leave a drug situation... jmt, you are entitled to your opinion, that is what makes america great...
WOW! Guess I left off a third possibility: that you're insane.
Just curious, do you own a gun?
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