Pubdate: Thu, 15 May 2003
Source: Hattiesburg American (MS)
Copyright: 2003 Hattiesburg American
Contact:  http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1646
Author: John Caldwell Jr.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS 'BENDING' RULES

William Burroughs was an author who appealed to a varied audience from the
1960s until his death recently. I found his writings to be among the most
eloquent defense of constitutional liberty of the last 50 years. In his
later years, he worried that our government's disdain for illicit drugs
would become a popular excuse for the loosening of our personal rights in
the name of a war against Americans who use these drugs.

Our personal liberties have been threatened by this "War on Drugs," as
evidenced by the seizures allowed by local authorities all the way up to the
national law enforcement agencies in a "guilty until proven innocent"
fashion.

In my lifetime, I have seen the scourge that is drug addiction change the
great man into the most sick man. Let us find a way to help the sickly,
enforce the anti-drug laws and show compassion without bending the "rules"
that we as Americans value as our birthright.

John Caldwell Jr.,

Jackson
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