Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jan 2002 Source: The Monitor (TX) Copyright: 2002 The Monitor Contact: http://www.themonitor.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1250 Author: Hugh Kelley LEGALIZATION WON'T WORK To the editor: Some of the editorial "Bad Combination: Don't combine wars on drugs, terror," Jan. 2, may have merit. Your position to legalize drugs as a solution to solve anything does not. We can impede the flow of drug money to terrorists by financial controls. Yes, if we legalized drugs the crime rate and prison overcrowding would go down, but crime would go up. The same would be true if we legalized murder, rape and robbery. But who would want to live in the society that is created? Legalizing may take some of the profit out of drugs. Then again, it may only move the profit center. We legalized liquor and took the profit away from the racketeers. But, there is apparently plenty of profit left. The companies in this business are not declaring bankruptcy. The only change to be achieved by reducing the price of drugs will be to greatly increase their acceptance and usage by the public. We have about 19,000 people killed on our highways each year by intoxicated drivers. A large percentage of the crimes committed in the nation are committed by people under the influence of some type of drugs. Yet, you perceive that drugs are only a social problem. Not a criminal one. This is the type of liberties we want? I think not! C'mon now, get that needle out of your arm. Hugh Kelley Mission - --- MAP posted-by: Beth