Pubdate: Mon, 18 Sep 2006
Source: News-Press (FL)
Copyright: 2006 The News-Press
Contact:  http://www.news-press.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1133
Authour: Howard Newhard

DRUG BUST NEEDS FEDS

Re: "Operation Dunbar," Sept. 8. With 13 arresting agencies, 39 
"busted" and $1.3 million estimated value of confiscation it looks 
like something important is being done.

Let's focus: Drug-related crimes equal about 50 percent of our 
inmates. Drugs cause a rippling effect of pain and suffering 
throughout our society, weakening it and destroying our social/cultural fabric.

What good does it really do if we pick up the low-level peddlers who 
will use the turnstile system and be out on the street again in six 
months or so?

The 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-year Congress people have watched this grow up 
around their ears and have done nothing. This problem requires that 
laws be written that mandate life in prison to anyone who is 
drug-free and sells drugs to dealers or consumers.

It is worse than murder. It needs the appropriate punishment.

Having DEA go abroad to "negotiate" the stoppage of poppy growing has 
been useless. We must stop this at home in our own backyard. Working 
through the graft and corruption of it all is a job for a special 
section of the DEA.

Congress must provide the laws and the funds.

Howard Newhard,

Cape Coral
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MAP posted-by: Elaine