Pubdate: Sun, 21 May 2000
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  333 King St. E., Toronto, Ontario M5A 3X5 Canada
Fax: (416) 947-3228
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/newsgroups.html
Author: Matthew M. Elrod
Note: Headline by MAP editor, parenthetical remark by Sun editor

ZERO TOLERANCE EQUALS ZERO CONTROL

IN HIS May 14 column ("Political rants ... and raves"), John Downing asked, 
"Is there really law and order in this city when the police can't stop just 
one building for one night from being a haven for drugs?" Given that we 
cannot keep drugs out of our maximum security prisons, we should not blame 
the police for failing to keep drugs out of raves. Just as enthusiasts will 
attend raves, with or without supervision, drug users will obtain drugs, 
with or without a legal, regulated supply. Banning raves and prohibiting 
drugs are the parental equivalent of kicking a teenager out of the house. 
As counter-intuitive as it may seem, zero tolerance equals zero control.

Matthew M. Elrod

Victoria, B.C.

(Giving up by giving in isn't good parenting either)
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart