Pubdate: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO) Copyright: 2001 Denver Publishing Co. Contact: 400 W. Colfax, Denver, CO 80204 Feedback: http://cfapps.insidedenver.com/opinion/ Website: http://www.denver-rmn.com/ Author: Joseph P. Pettrow MENA CASE SHOWS DANGER OF IGNORING CONSTITUTION In recent months, there has been much ado about the Ismael Mena case and police raids. This very problem was addressed well over 200 years ago by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. When local authorities take to usurping the constitutional rights of we the people, for whatever reason, chaos ensues. Innocent people are losing their lives, their livelihoods and possessions in the name of the war on drugs. If it would save one innocent life, should we not return to the tenets of the Constitution? Remember the admonitions of Benjamin Franklin: " . . .those who would sacrifice a little liberty for a little security will achieve neither." Joseph P. Pettrow Aurora - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager