Pubdate: Sun, 29 Oct 2000
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2000 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Author: David M. Evans

VOTE 'NO!' ON INITIATIVE B

How scared would you feel if you, and the police, thought dangerous crime 
was going on next door? How frustrated would you feel if the police told 
you they couldn't do much about it? That the laws favored the suspected 
criminals more than they favored you and your children?

Vote no on Initiative B. Never has a ballot initiative made me as angry as 
Initiative B. Its name, "Utah Property Protection Act," sounds innocent, 
but in reality it is a Trojan horse that would protect the guilty and hurt 
the innocent.

It deals with forfeitures of property suspected in a crime. Those who want 
this initiative to pass (who are from out of state and are dedicated to 
legalizing drugs, charges they do not deny) claim that law enforcement's 
forfeiture process is "corrupt" and property owners need more rights. But 
their evidence is flimsy, and their claim to the constitutional rights of 
"due process of law" are out of proportion with reality.

In reality, this initiative would protect criminals and defense attorneys. 
It would hurt law-abiding citizens and victims of crimes and would 
discourage law enforcement. Utah's law enforcement community is unitedly 
opposed to this initiative, and so should all law-abiding Utahns.

Don't be fooled by the proponents of this ill-conceived proposal. Read the 
analysis on pages 49-50 of the Utah Voter Information Pamphlet.

I love the Constitution. It helps to keep political power in balance. The 
constitutional framers wanted to prevent government officers from harassing 
their law-abiding opponents. Therefore, the accused were guaranteed certain 
rights. But do you think they ever intended for the rights of the accused 
to outweigh the rights of victims or of law enforcement?

It's hard enough for our police and sheriffs to fight crime. Let's not make 
it harder for them.

David M. Evans, Taylorsville
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager