Pubdate: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 Source: Surrey Now (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc., A Canwest Company Contact: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462 Author: Carolyn Cooke ROCKER DOGS PIPE SELLERS While it's not against the law for corner stores to sell drug paraphernalia, Bob King Stierle is waging war against dealers. The 40-year Whalley resident first became aware of the trend about three months ago when his sister pointed it out to him. He went to see for himself and discovered many convenience stores in the area have displays of bongs, crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia for sale, usually right beside the penny candy popular with kids. "Without realizing it, they've shown up everywhere," he said. "It's not about the drugs," said King Stierle, a punk rocker and band roadie who is no Pollyanna about the drug scene or its effects. While it is legal to sell and possess new bongs, pipes or similar things - usually termed novelty items - they can be seized by police for evidence if they have drug residue on them. The issue, said King Stierle, is really a social and moral one. "I do not want my children to think drugs are OK because the corner store is selling pipes," he said, noting that such displays only normalize the reality of drug use. He said people can already go to head shops for paraphernalia. "I'd rather my children know I put up a fight on their behalf rather than say, 'There's nothing I can do about it.'" On Monday, King Stierle visited three stores with paraphernalia displays. At the first, Master Foods, just off 96th Avenue and 128th Street, he told the owner he thinks it's wrong for stores to have drug paraphernalia next to candy displays, pointing to the row of bulk candies at the front of a display case of brightly-coloured bongs and an assortment of crack pipes. The owner protested that it's not illegal, to which King Stierle said, "Neither is hard core porn." He reiterated his plea to remove the drug paraphernalia because it's the "socially responsible thing to do." The owner said his English was too poor to understand. King Stierle tried again, pointing at the penny candy and bongs. The owner finally said he would talk to his lawyer about it, but wouldn't commit to removing the display. In such cases, King Stierle said, he has about 30 local residents who call store owners to tell them they too believe it is "socially irresponsible and unacceptable" to have drug paraphernalia for sale next to candies meant for youngsters. One of the local churches has a large Korean-speaking congregation, and has offered to translate for owners who plead a language barrier. At the second location, Food Town, at 95th Avenue and 132nd Street, the manager wasn't on site, but the paraphernalia display was still at the front counter near fresh cut flowers. King Stierle gave his spiel to a female employee who became upset and yelled that she can't do anything about it. He promised to return to speak with the owner yet again. The third stop of King Stierle's tour was Roebuck Grocery at 13192 92nd Ave. Here King Stierle was delighted to find the store no longer selling drug paraphernalia. He shook the clerk's hand and thanked her in Korean. King Stierle said this was the fifth of seven stores to remove the displays at his and his group's request. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek