Pubdate: Sat, 09 Aug 2003 Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC) Copyright: 2003 Evening Post Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.charleston.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567 Author: Bill Upshur SOCIAL PROBLEM The Aug. 2 Post and Courier had a front-page article, with photo, titled "Laying down the law." It was a story about a gentleman who lives west of the Ashley who became so exasperated with the drug violence that "he fired a 12-gauge shotgun three times at three men who were having a shootout in his front yard." He "apparently wounded two of the men, who he said were drug dealers." There have been numerous reports in the paper about thefts, violence, chases, injuries and deaths of drug dealers, and police involved in the "War On Drugs." Over the years, our communities have become more unsafe by our approach to the drug problem. Has anyone noticed that there have been few shootings, violence, injuries, or deaths involving the people who deal in ethyl alcohol? No turf wars. No children shot accidentally because an alcohol deal went bad? No whiskey dealer around the schools trying to entice school children to get hooked on booze? We have not had to spend millions housing whiskey drinkers or dealers in an increasing number of jails. These violent events related to alcohol did occur in the past. The use of drugs is a major problem for South Carolina. Earlier generations learned a lesson in the destructive results of criminalizing drug use. In that case, the drug was alcohol, but they went to the effort to repeal the amendment to our Constitution that had outlawed the use of alcohol. Making drinking a crime only made the problem worse, and making other drug use a crime is only making the problem worse. Other drugs should be treated similarly to alcohol, controlled but not criminalized. When people under the influence of drugs endanger or disrupt others, then their actions should be treated as criminal and jail time and fines should be used, but when people get themselves doped up in their homes or in private areas and do not disturb others, they should be left alone to enjoy the good or bad consequences of their acts. We would do better to understand that drug use is a medical and social problem and not make it a criminal problem. Our money and efforts would be better spent developing procedures and techniques to prevent drug use and to aid those who have learned their lesson and want to stop drug use. Instead of folks taking the law into their own hands, arming the neighborhoods and creating a situation where people might be shot by drug dealers and homeowners, let's try laying down workable beneficial drug laws that have effective, helpful and peaceful social consequences. BILL UPSHUR 2410 Blackground Road - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake