Pubdate: Mon, 16 Apr 2001
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2001 Cox Interactive Media.
Contact:  http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Jason Wilson

NARCOTICS OFFICERS' MAIN INTENT: DEPRIVING US OF OUR RIGHTS

I disagree with the April 9 "In My Opinion" ("Police officer gave 
generously") that slated that slain narcotics agent Sherry Lyons-Williams 
was "a protector of all of us." Narcotics officers are the foot soldiers in 
a war against the American people, the main intent of which is to gradually 
strip us of our rights as free people.

I am not simply referring to an adult's right to put whatever he chooses 
into his own body. I am also referring to our First Amendment rights. I am 
talking about our Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and 
seizure --- a portion of our Constitution that will be essentially 
meaningless in a decade if we do not stop this insane drug war.

Serving as a protector of all of us? Is this done through destroying 
families by arresting their sole providers for nonviolent crimes? Is this 
done by empowering drug gangs in the exact same way we did during 
Prohibition? Is this done by narcotics agents and DEA agents busting into a 
house because they got a tip from an anonymous source and then, after they 
kill someone, finding out that there are no drugs in the home?

No, these narcotics agents are not working to make our streets safer. And 
although it is unfortunate when anyone is killed, do not ask me to mourn 
for a narcotics officer who invaded a man's home to prevent him from being 
able to sell a powder that somebody wanted to inhale.

Jason Wilson
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