|
| |
THE DAILY GAZETTE
OPINION SECTION,
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997
TOO TOUGH ON DRUGS
James A. Smith (Aug. 12 letter) claims New York state could reduce crime,
build schools instead of jails, and lower addiction if harsher sentences
were imposed on drug offenders. Mr Smith is wrong on all counts.
First, crime increases when the drug supply is lower, because that raises
the price of drugs and people steal more to get their fix. Secondly,
Rockefeller's drug laws are among the strictest in the antion and have
resulted in the second-highest prison growth to house mostly nonviolent
drug convicts. Finally, Rockefeller's laws have shown no correlation to any
drop in drug use since they were implemented 25 years ago.
Regrettably, most Americans believe we can win a war on drugs through
incarceration and scare tactics. Despite 30 yers of data that prove our
government has failed miserably in its prohibition of drugs, waging a war
on drugs is still patriotic as ever.
WILLIAM AIKEN
Albany
Next
|
