Pubdate: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 Source: Daily News of Los Angeles (CA) Copyright: 2002 Daily News of Los Angeles Contact: http://www.dailynews.com/info/contact/index.asp Website: http://www.DailyNews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/246 Author: Jacque Petterson TRUTH IS HIDDEN Re "Tobacco overkill" (Editorial, March 19): As usual when it comes to tobacco and illegal drugs, the truth is hidden under the rug to camouflage reality. Let's say it like it is. The reason the Los Angeles City Council needs to create a law banning the sale of tobacco within 500 feet of a school is to stop "head shops" from influencing our children by opening a storefront they will pass every day. Under the guise of tobacco shops, these people sell drug paraphernalia. They are a support system for the drug dealers (often kids inside the schools) who want your children hooked. Whether tobacco dealers or drug dealers, they do not belong anywhere near our schools. Jacque Petterson Santa Clarita - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom