Pubdate: Sat, 27 May 2000
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2000 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64108
Feedback: http://www.kansascity.com/Discussion/
Website: http://www.kcstar.com/
Author: Kevin P. Carey
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n682/a02.html

POLICE FORFEITURE

It is high time we Americans scrutinize the quickening pace with which the 
"police state" in America continues to grow and our basic civil liberties, 
rights and responsibilities, granted by our Founding Fathers in the 
Declaration of Independence, are being stripped away. Karen Dillon's 
front-page articles about forfeiture of money and property in drug 
investigations (5/21-22) serve to further illuminate this trend, and she 
and The Star deserve high praise for them.

As a 32-year-old, gainfully employed Navy veteran, I can remember during my 
junior high civics class, high school history class, my year as an American 
Legion Boys State participant and my eight years of naval service how we 
were encouraged to look to the Soviet Union, China and Cuba as examples of 
totalitarian states where denial of basic human rights were mode de rigeur.

Shame on our leaders for irresponsibly diverting attention elsewhere when 
such denial is pervasive right here at home.

I look forward to The Star's continuing coverage of this and related topics.

Kevin P. Carey, Kansas City
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D