Pubdate: Tue, 30 Nov 1999
Date: 11/30/1999
Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (MN)
Author: Randy Ristesund
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1275/a10.html
Note: Differing from the printed version, the headline of the newspaper's
online version for this letters section was "Laws Grams supports more
harmful than drugs"

Sen. Rod Grams underscores the reasons we have such a failed
prohibition policy. He laments his own son's addiction, blind to the
fact that the only real danger his son faces is caused by the laws the
senator supports.

He compounds his glaring stupidity by saying, ``Each time my telephone
rings, my heart stops for a moment, for I live with the fear that this
time someone is calling to tell me my son's addiction has cost my
child his life.'' Mr. Grams, the laws you support have already caused
that reality for many parents.

American citizens are now denied the right our grandparents once had.
They could purchase standardized products of known purity at the
corner pharmacy and avoid a fatal surprise overdose.

If it were not for prohibitionists like you, there would be no
surprise overdoses.

What have you to say to the parents whose children you helped kill?
Grams boasts of culpability in the killing or jailing of someone's
child every day; Grams admits his addictive allegiance to the morally
bankrupt policies with which prohibition infects our nation each time
he says, ``That is why I will continue the fight to rid our nation of
drugs and to protect our children.''

Richard Marchese
Fairfield, N.J.