Pubdate: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 Source: Aurora, The (CN NF) Copyright: 2007 The Aurora Contact: http://www.theaurora.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3219 Author: D. Landry Note: Title by MAP Editor A RESPONSE TO ARTICLE BY CPL MACKINNON Re: Drug Dealers And Organized Crime By Cpl. Keith MacKinnon Dear Editor Despite a close working relationship, RCMP CPL MacKinnon seems to miss the simple logic of the illegal drug business. Perhaps it's a case of missing the forest for the trees. He states "Drugs will always be available, as there will always be a demand." True. Continuing the prohibition of drugs guarantees organized crime will dominate the trade in those drugs. As long as the good soldiers of the failed 'Drug War' like CST MacKinnon chase after an admittedly unreachable goal (chasing down all the dealers), they ensure the organized criminals are the ones who will take the risk and make the huge profits. Whatever evils a person chooses to ingest, be they chardonnay, Big Macs, Smirnoff, Oreos, kitchen knives, or BC bud, it is purely a heath issue. Tens of billions of tax dollars are taken from childcare, health care, education to pay for the likes of CPL MacKinnon out chasing down 'a gram of weed'. By ensuring most drugs are produced and distributed by the wrong people, in the wrong places and sold with no controls whatsoever.I feel it's CPL MacKinnon, and those in law enforcement who push for continued prohibition, are the ones who "don't care about you or your family, only themselves". Oh, and their budgets too. D. Landry Vancouver, BC - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman