Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 Source: Meridian Booster (CN AB) Copyright: 2008, The Lloydminster Meridian Booster Contact: http://www.meridianbooster.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1590 Author: Allison Wall Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS When it comes to the drug trade there are few steps that shouldn't be considered to keep our kids and our communities safe. When it comes to the drug trade there are few steps that shouldn't be considered to keep our kids and our communities safe. When there are still places in the world where drug dealers are simply killed out-right, they should consider themselves lucky they are peddling their trash in as unassuming country as they have been. Governments should be applauded for steps such as the Safer Communities Act that allows communities to shut down known drug houses. And with increased intelligence and broader resources police are able to nab dealers, traffickers and drug producers sometimes before it's too late. Of course, there are many times when any action simply comes too late. Now it would seem there could be recourse for even those who have already been impacted by the drug trade. In an unusual, yet potentially very far reaching legal battle, a woman recently won round one in the case against the man who sold her crystal meth that nearly killed her. Sure, there will be the scoffers who will see nothing more than a drug user who has brought this on herself, and deserving of no compensation. But while this case may end in a financial compensation for this one person it could have much larger implications if families can actually start hitting these dealers where they will feel it the most. Not in their heart or in their conscious - both of which need to be set aside in their line of work - but rather in their pocketbook. Because, after all, as scummy as a business it is, it is still business. And business has been too good for too long for these guys. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake