Pubdate: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT) Copyright: 2007 The Salt Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.sltrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383 Author: Robert Heath DETER DRUGS WITH DOGS The Salt Lake Tribune has published many articles on drug use in the juvenile generation. I support The Tribune's effort to protect our children and eradicate this great evil in our midst. American schools are high priority targets for conscienceless drug pushers whose greed regularly puts the health and lives of our children at risk. These treacherous criminals prosper in spite of more than $20 billion spent every year by the federal government in the drug war. The drug problem among juveniles is severe; federal remedies are not working. Just suppose that $2 billion or $3 billion of the ineffective drug-war money was spent on drug dogs with handlers to protect the perimeters of the nation's public schools. Dog teams on patrol in paramilitary gear, just off the school grounds, might be a powerful deterrent for drug pushers. The pushers might leave the schools alone, and consequently, the drug trade among children might be cut substantially. Additional protection for the children can be obtained by training dogs to detect firearms before they enter the school yards. Safety at airports is currently improved by dog teams; school safety is equally important. Robert Heath Sandy - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman