Pubdate: Thu, 30 Nov 2000
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2000 The Register-Guard
Contact:  PO Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188
Website: http://www.registerguard.com/
Author: Jerry Ritter

CHARACTERIZATION INACCURATE

Reporter David Steves (Register-Guard, Nov. 17) calls the success of 
Measure 3 "an achievement of people trying to roll back the war on drugs." 
This characterization is neither fair nor accurate.

The vast majority of those of us who worked to get Measure 3 on the ballot 
were not trying to "roll back the war on drugs." We, and most of the 
hundreds of thousands of Oregonians who voted for Measure 3, were instead 
trying to correct a blatant and egregious flaw in our justice system.

Police can still seize and keep the assets of convicted drug dealers, but 
they can no longer keep the seized assets of those who are not convicted of 
any crime.

Before Measure 3, they could do - and did - the latter. What is equally 
disturbing is that every major law enforcement agency and newspaper in the 
state, including The Register-Guard, saw nothing wrong with this. 
Thankfully, Oregonians, by a 2-to-1 margin, disagreed.

My thanks to Commissioner Bill Dwyer, Floyd Prozanski, George Soros and the 
countless others who worked for and voted for this desperately needed change.

Jerry Ritter

Springfield
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager