Pubdate: Thu, 02 Aug 2001
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Houston Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: David A. Hawes

FILLING PRISONS WITH 'KIDS'

The Chronicle's July 31 Page one reports on the Senate Ecstasy hearings 
being held in Washington, D.C., this week have yielded some sensational 
stories about the proliferation of Ecstasy and the dangers it holds for our 
kids and our country ("Senate panel told of a plague called X").

Once again it will be nearly impossible for our representatives to resist 
throwing more money at law enforcement and creating new and more onerous 
penalties for possession and trafficking. The politicians can then go back 
to their home districts and crow about the great efforts they are making 
for our kids' sake.

If filling prisons with "our kids" is the only way that they can think of 
to save "our kids," they should just not bother.

David A. Hawes, Dayton
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens