Pubdate: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX) Copyright: 2000 Amarillo Globe-News Contact: P.O. Box 2091, Amarillo, TX 79166 Fax: (806) 373-0810 Website: http://amarillonet.com/ Forum: http://208.138.68.214:90/eshare/server?action4 Author: Trey Russell DRUG POLICY REVOKES RIGHTS Your editorial agreement with a ruling from U.S. District Judge David L. Russell, that public schools can force students to submit to drug testing, is inexcusable. Again, you take the side of the political establishment for taking away the rights of U.S. citizens, adolescents included. The constitutional prohibition against unlawful search and seizure must be protected. There has been no crime, so no probable cause exists. How can you condone subjecting adolescent citizens to this unlawful search and seizure of their bodily fluids? And authorities must watch while the subject "fills the bottle" so there is no tampering with the sample - an invasion of privacy. With policies against corporal punishment, inappropriate touching and giving someone a cough drop in force in many school districts today, how do we expect these children to not feel violated? I would. The editorial states, "It seems legally plausible that a policy deemed constitutional for one segment of a student body - those in extracurricular activities - would also apply to the student body in general." Let me suggest a "legally plausible" application of your mandated drug testing: a mandate that all politicians, from the president to the justice of the peace, and all government employees, fill the bottle while we watch. Surely the medicine you prescribe for adolescent citizens is good enough for mature, responsible government servants. After all, their decision-making abilities should not be compromised by drug use. The child playing in the band who gives his buddy a cough drop for a sore throat is far from a threat to society. Judging by previous rulings, it can be assumed that "we the people" have no legal authority to ensure a safe and appropriate governmental environment. Trey Russell, Amarillo - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D