THOUGHT OF THE MOMENT:
Freedom, Prosperity and Peace...
FOREVER.
Rethinking the War on Drugs
by James Bell
12/21/06
The killing of Mrs. Kathryn Johnston by Atlanta Police has raised some serious questions about the war on drugs and the tactics used to enforce these laws. One being; has our nation reached a point where busting in doors and killing old ladies can be justified as “collateral damage” in the war on drugs? Something is dreadfully wrong. A new approach is needed.
Mrs. Johnston’s death brings to question the use of “confidential informants” (C.I.)
and “no-
Thousands of people have been sent to prison based on information from paid informants and defendants who have turned to snitching as a way to save themselves from prison. In this case the C.I. claims the police made up his story and asked him to lie about it and then placed him in protective custody by the FBI. Protected from whom… the Atlanta Police?
Since this story broke, the facts of the case seem to evolve. At first, city officials were quick to say that the raid was “by the book” and the shooting was justified until the C.I. used to issue the warrant claimed the police where not telling the truth. Then city officials distanced themselves from the case.
As the facts in this case are sorted out, the public should be questioning the sanity of continuing the war on drugs in this manor. While the use of C.I.’s are called into question, the entire war on drugs policy should be scrutinized.
After spending trillions of tax dollars in an attempt to control supply and demand, drugs are still flowing into our country unabated by the tons, to supply the American demand. In a devastating way the laws of supply and demand drive a black market created by prohibition. As long as there are billions of dollars in profits to be made from illegal drugs there will be a supply.
Today, the sad fact is children have easier access to legal and illegal drugs than ever before. If our nation can’t keep drugs out of jails and prisons, why should we think we can keep them off the streets? If tons of drugs are crossing our borders what else is crossing? So much for “Homeland Security”!
A new approach to the war on drugs would include legalization or decriminalization of drug use and health measures that will reduce the harm created.
Not all drug policy reform options involve the legalization of drugs. If legalization or regulation is not favored, a dozen options are available to reduce the harm of prohibition.