Fatherless children, drug laws

 

In Houston during recent weeks, two men suspected of peddling drugs were killed and another was wounded over 45 pounds of low-grade marijuana. In a world where it was legal, this amount of pot would have very little value and there would be no reason for these deaths or for the three children to be left without fathers.

Last week, two policemen were killed and another critically injured by gunfire over drugs. During the same week, a sheriff's deputy was shot by a man who, because of his prior scrapes with the law, would have earned a mandatory sentence. Another two children left fatherless. Another Houston police officer was shot last week and his partner is in intensive care from a gunshot wound by a drug dealer who wanted to escape incarceration.

Even though the suspects in these shootings have all been arrested and will likely receive the death penalty, the city of Houston will be without the services of these outstanding officers and several young children will be forever without the fathers they loved.

All of these incidents have a common thread -- prohibition -- and are due to our draconian drug laws. For the sake of our society and for the sake of our children, it is time to end the drug war.    ***

Dean Becker, community liaison, Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Houston

(4 Variations were published by Texas Newspapers, Picture of baby selected by Chronicle.) 

     Dallas Morning News  May 28, 2001, "Houston's Toll:  Time To End The Drug War"

*** Houston Chronicle  May 30, "Fatherless Children, Drug Laws"  

     Austin American Statesman May 30, "End Drug War"

     Galveston Daily News  June 3, "Draconian Drug Laws Lead To More Woes" 

    Additional LTE's published:

    Dallas Morning News July 8, 2001 "Body Count"

    Galveston Daily News  July 18, 2001 "Time to Reform U.S. Drug Policy"

    Huntsville Item Aug 13, 2001 "End Hypocritical Drug War"

    The Jamaica Observer Aug 23, 2001 "Would You Arrest Jefferson?"

    The Jamaica Gleaner Aug 23, 2001 "Marijuana and Hypocrites"

    The Jamaica Observer Aug 29, 2001 "Find a Rational Approach to end the Drug War" 

    The Jamaica Gleaner Sep 4, 2001 "On Winning the Drug War"

    The Jamaica Observer Sept 10, 2001 "Stop the Drug Scourge"

    Galveston Daily News Oct 2, 2001 "Prohibition Of Drugs Powers Terrorist Factions"

    Houston Chronicle  Oct. 14, 2001 "The Evils of Prohibition"

    High Point Enterprise Oct 28, 2001 "Drugs Present a Dilemma"

    Austin American Statesman  Feb 6, 2002 "Misdirected Dollars"

    Galveston Daily News Feb 27, 2002 "Hale to Make Stand on Marijuana Laws"

    Galveston Daily News Mar 8, 2002 "Hale Might Be On The Trail of Real Justice" (by Pam Johnson)

    Abbotsford News Mar 8, 2002 "MUSINGS ON MARIJUANA AND DRUG ADDICTION"

    Amarillo Globe-News Aug 16, 2002  "Legalizing Drugs Would Curb Sale To Kids"

    Houston Chronicle Aug 17, 2002  "War on Drugs Larger Tragedy"

    The Monitor  Sep 2, 2002  "Drug Laws Bypass Constitution"

    Houston Chronicle Dec 20, 2002  "TELLING DRUG-WAR TRUTH"

    Galveston Daily News Jan 19, 2003  "Who Benefits In Country's Ongoing War On Drugs?"