Pubdate: Mon,  2 Aug 2004
Source: Summit Daily News (CO)
Copyright: 2004 Summit Daily News
Contact:  http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587
Author: Cindy Keiser
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1069/a06.html?111472
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1073/a06.html?111472

DRUG TASK FORCE COULD HAVE MOVED MORE SLOWLY IN WRONG METH RAID

I am grateful for and want to protect my civil liberties at all costs.
This is where the "right to bear arms" takes on a more personal
meaning for me. But that is another, much longer discussion.

As we have seen, much of the world really doesn't even know what the
concepts of "democracy" and "civil liberties" mean. We are very
fortunate to live here, and the cost is a level of ambiguity about
what and who are right and wrong.

The thing about these meth labs is that we aren't just talking about
people taking or doing bad drugs; these little chemistry experiments
burn down houses and apartments in Denver all the time.

The toxic fumes are shared by all who breathe, so especially in an
apartment or condo situation, every lead must be followed to prevent
them.

We live in a time where our personal rights are being questioned in
relation to terrorism and national security. So we have to get clear
about where to draw the line before things get ugly again.

I think the Summit County Drug Task Force in its July 25 raid in
Frisco could have proceeded a little more slowly, since it had the
residents in custody. It seems like police tried to shoot a mosquito
with a gun.

Perhaps a better procedure would have been to take the couple to the
condo and have them open their door with a key. But hey, I don't claim
to know anything about law enforcement, so maybe that is a crazy idea.

Cindy Keiser

Blue River
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