Pubdate: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC) Copyright: 2008 Asheville Citizen-Times Contact: http://www.citizen-times.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n297/a04.html Author: Howard J. Wooldridge POLICE CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM DOING STUPID THINGS IN PRIVATE Carl Mumpower believes the government thru its police department can protect a citizen who is doing something stupid in their own home. His faith is misplaced. As a police officer, I learned we cannot stop personal stupidity in ones' home. Only family and friends can help someone with a personal demon. All we can do is put them in jail. How is that helping? Will North Carolina be able to afford to keep locking up its citizens in the recession? Will it lay off college professors or prison guards? Will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and end this modern prohibition? Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired), Washington, D.C. Wooldridge is an Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake