Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. From the sixteenth century, many herds of bears were maintained for baiting. In its best-known form, arenas for this purpose were called bear-gardens, consisting of a circular high fenced area, the "pit", and raised seating for spectators. A post would be set in the ground towards the edge of the pit and the bear chained to it, either by the leg or neck. A number of well-trained hunting dogs, usually pit bulls, would then be set on it, being replaced as they got tired or were wounded or killed. In some cases the bear was let loose, allowing it to chase after animals or people.—Wikipedia
In this morning’s newspaper (yes, I still occasionally read the dead tree version of the news) there is a column on page 2 called “Matter of Record.” The header at the top reads “The following felonies were filed in the … County Court Clerk’s Office:” It doesn't say over what period of time these felonies were filed. Were these just from yesterday? This week? Is this an end-of-month report for May? It doesn't say.Anyway, there are 18 felonies listed. Guess how many were drug related? Just make a guess. I’ll wait.
In this morning’s newspaper (yes, I still occasionally read the dead tree version of the news) there is a column on page 2 called “Matter of Record.” The header at the top reads “The following felonies were filed in the … County Court Clerk’s Office:” It doesn't say over what period of time these felonies were filed. Were these just from yesterday? This week? Is this an end-of-month report for May? It doesn't say.Anyway, there are 18 felonies listed. Guess how many were drug related? Just make a guess. I’ll wait.
Those of you who guessed 8 were correct. There were 4 assault and batteries, 4 thefts, a weapons charge and one driving under suspension. You will notice that there were twice as many drug arrests as any other individual crime. (All the black offenders will get prison time and all the white ones will get community service, but that’s a whole ’nother post.)
One of the drugs charges says “possession of controlled and dangerous substances, yadda, yadda, comma, DUI.”
DUI is a real crime. If you get behind the wheel of a car high on marijuana, heroine, alcohol or over-the-counter cold medicine, you have turned the car into a deadly weapon. That’s a serious crime, easily equivalent to the weapons charge or the assault and batteries. I am completely happy for the police to remove a DUI from any street where I or anyone else might be driving, walking or living next to.
Possessing something that will cause unauthorized giggling is not a crime. Yes, it’s illegal. It can get you put in prison for the rest of your life. It can get you killed by the police or criminals. The attorney fees, bail bond, court costs and fines can bankrupt you. The felony charge can make you utterly unemployable and ineligible for college grants and loans.
But unless there is a victim, there is no crime.
The person with the “controlled and dangerous yadda, yadda” in their pocket was not committing a crime. The two guys who tried to strangle their wives are criminals. The guy who tried to sell stolen goods to a pawn shop is a criminal.
The four women with pot in their pocket (or whatever it was) are NOT criminals.
They are victims. They are victims of a drug war that has, is or will destroy their lives more horribly and completely than a heroine addiction, or Oxycontin abuse or even alcoholism which is perfectly legal.
The idea of marijuana destroying these peoples lives more completely than a single felony drug charge is laughable on the face of it.
One of the drugs charges says “possession of controlled and dangerous substances, yadda, yadda, comma, DUI.”
DUI is a real crime. If you get behind the wheel of a car high on marijuana, heroine, alcohol or over-the-counter cold medicine, you have turned the car into a deadly weapon. That’s a serious crime, easily equivalent to the weapons charge or the assault and batteries. I am completely happy for the police to remove a DUI from any street where I or anyone else might be driving, walking or living next to.
Possessing something that will cause unauthorized giggling is not a crime. Yes, it’s illegal. It can get you put in prison for the rest of your life. It can get you killed by the police or criminals. The attorney fees, bail bond, court costs and fines can bankrupt you. The felony charge can make you utterly unemployable and ineligible for college grants and loans.
But unless there is a victim, there is no crime.
The person with the “controlled and dangerous yadda, yadda” in their pocket was not committing a crime. The two guys who tried to strangle their wives are criminals. The guy who tried to sell stolen goods to a pawn shop is a criminal.
The four women with pot in their pocket (or whatever it was) are NOT criminals.
They are victims. They are victims of a drug war that has, is or will destroy their lives more horribly and completely than a heroine addiction, or Oxycontin abuse or even alcoholism which is perfectly legal.
The idea of marijuana destroying these peoples lives more completely than a single felony drug charge is laughable on the face of it.
The drug war is the bear baiting of our time. Centuries ago, people would pay to watch someone torture a bear. It was cruel, bloody, disgusting and morally depraved. And perfectly normal and ordinary. Bring the kids. We’ll all have a good laugh.
The drug war is our modern, perfectly normal, ordinary, moral depravity.
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