H.R. 1528, “Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act” (I sure don’t get the “treatment” part, as apparently anyone I turn in to the police for actual or suspected drug activity goes to jail, or I do if I elect to ignore said activity).
I cannot believe anyone could possibly take this proposed legislation seriously. First, and so obvious, is that it certainly will do nothing to help “wage the war on drugs.” The whole war on drugs has been a ridiculous failure and waste of time and money. Anyone with a brain in their head knows that addicts need treatment, not punishment. If drugs were legalized, they would be regulated in the same way that alcohol and cigarettes (also drugs, I’d like to point out) are.
The second, and I think far more serious issue with this proposal is the totalitarian mind set behind it. We are now being asked to spy and turn in neighbors, family, strangers and friends that we even suspect might be involved in some sort of drug activity (even merely asking about availability). To further the insanity, the burden this Orwellian policy puts on innocent bystanders is unbelievable. If I go to a concert, for instance, and smell marijuana, I guess I now must hunt down the crazed criminal and demand his or her name, disturb the surrounding crowd (as they are all required to be involved as well) and haul my ass to the nearest phone booth to report the crime.
Really, it brings up all kinds of problems, like, should I carry a gun in order to force the pot-crazed lunatic(s) to give me their names? Is it now my job to grab their pot or pipe or joint to ensure that further criminal activity is eliminated? Do I have to wait beside the potheads to make sure they don’t flee the scene (as they might likely do as these Maryjane-fogged dope fiends will now face criminal sentences of the sort child molesters do)? I mean, I am truly confused as to what is expected of me once this law takes effect, which Lord knows, it should, so we can get those marauding bands of potheads causing crime waves across the country off our streets and into our overcrowded jails. Well, we could just let out the rapists and child molesters – hell, what kind of threat are they when compared with a college student who tries a joint?
How dare this asinine James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) (And could his name be more ironic? Nosensenbrenner is more like it.) try to pull this 1984 move on us? How dare he? Next, people, it’s the thought police. In fact, just read the book “1984” if you haven’t (before it’s banned) and you’ll see the future of this country – we are already well on our way!
Victoria Hoyt
Snoqualmie
