Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2011 Evelyn Reisenwitz Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Evelyn Reisenwitz Note: Second of 2 letters Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n401/a03.html THE DRUG WAR'S BLITHE ACCEPTANCE OF NEEDLESS DEATHS I completely agree with Ms. O'Grady that the war on drugs has utterly failed. I disagree, however, with her assertion that the perpetrators of this war have reached a "new low" by valuing drug busts over human life. The blithe acceptance of collateral damage in the form of needless death has been an unfortunate component of the drug war for some time. Consider the steep rise in the use of SWAT teams to serve search and arrest warrants, half of which are related to nonviolent crimes. The use of SWAT teams raises the stakes, putting innocent homeowners in a difficult position. Consider Cheryl Lynn Noel of Baltimore County. A SWAT team broke into her home in 2005 after marijuana seeds were found in her garbage can. She was shot and killed by agents who found her in her bedroom holding a pistol. Then there is Kathryn Johnson of Atlanta, who opened fire on unannounced police officers who returned lethal fire. This 2006 raid produced a small amount of marijuana as well as a needless death. Finally, consider Jose Guerena of Pima County, Ariz. Mr. Guerena, a Marine veteran, went for his AR-15 when he thought his home was being invaded. A SWAT team entered his house and fired 71 rounds before Mr. Guerena disengaged the safety on his rifle. His house was searched and nothing illegal was found. In each of these examples, enforcement officers created the very violence they congratulate themselves for defusing. The cost of these exchanges can be measured in lives, making human collateral business as usual in the war on drugs. Evelyn Reisenwitz Minneapolis - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D