I never met Vincent, though he lived not too far from our office. He was about my age, a father, had some health issues, had never been trouble with the law... and he was murdered in his home of 14 years (in his Pajamas) by a Pembroke Pines police officer while serving a narcotics warrant for - get this - marijuana... at 6:30 in the morning. Seems Vincent thought his he was the victim of a home invasion - not very far fetched in South Florida.
How Florida is going to reconcile this murder with the fact that the rest of the states are going to legalize marijuana is beyond me.
The police that are/were willing to participate in these kinds of raids, the judge that signed the search warrant (it was not even an ARREST WARRENT, the police were on a fishing expedition), the politicians that funded these activities and the people that support this at the ballot box have this man's blood on their hands (and his bloody pajamas on my mind).
I hope they burn in the lowest Canto of Hell.
since i made it first, i might as well comment first as well. been following the other blog for a while in lurker mode but since you're officially political here now, i might as well come out of the closet. let's engage the debate. here's mine: http://themightyliberal.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteon this topic, i'm most assuredly with you. my understanding is that most cops with functioning brains think busts for weed are much more of a hassle than they are worth. but around here (and i am in the same area as you) anything's possible. if it weren't, carl hiaasen wouldn't be able to stay in business.
as things progress, i suspect i will tend to agree with you on cultural issues as they intersect with law (like this one) and probably rarely on economic matters.
libertarian approaches to econ sound great and look great on paper, but like any other utopian vision, crumbles in practice in the face of human behavior. i lean towards holding my nose and going pragmatic. i acknowledge it's a tightrope, but i'm walkin it.
let the games begin...
"libertarian approaches to econ sound great and look great on paper, but like any other utopian vision, crumbles in practice in the face of human behavior."
ReplyDeleteI think you are lost in the symantics, but we shall flesh it out.
Thanks and good luck!
Last year I had lunch with a federal judge, in the deep South. He told me that morning he put a drug dealer away. I asked him if it did any good, and he told me no. Too much money, every person he puts away, there are ten waiting in line to take his place. The judge was for some type of decriminalization, but he felt it was politically impossible. Also, the local DEA said that they don't care much about chasing Mary Jane. So there are more people in power than you think who would take a libertarian approach to drug use.
ReplyDeleteI work for an ex-federal magistrate and he thinks drugs should be legalized but regulated and taxed.
ReplyDeletePickdog
III
Hi Greg. I couldn't resist it; a whole new place to argue with you!
ReplyDeleteThe libertarian discussion is easier with marijuana; not much different to alcohol, etc. Would you also support legalised crack cocaine and heroin?
Greg,
ReplyDeleteUntil/unless legalization happens, citizens/victims (any difference?) will have to decide on two possible approaches to this issue. The 4th amendment is dead. What part of "unwarranted" and "probable cause" don't the authorities understand?
What are the two approaches: roll over like a dog and hope that you or your family members don't get killed by the American version of the Gestapo, or resist with force as though your home is being invaded. Juries have consistently exonerated citizens who have shot police officers under such conditions. If you choose this route, though, you'd better be well-armed (so that you scare them off before you get shot), and lucky.
If you roll over, don't expect that the American Gestapo will stop at the drug war: families have recently been raided, at gunpoint, over their food stores and animal husbandry.
I am not advocating one way or the other. If I were to choose a route for a family man, I would advocate "non-participation." Certainly keep your nose clean and away from illegal drugs and any excuse for the police to raid your house. And pray that your children and family stay clean... at some point, though, citizens have to help each other to defend their natural rights.
Perhaps the energy and economic crises will remove ability of the authorities to conduct such raids due to lack of resources... wishful thinking?
Legalization of marijuana will occur when the Gustapo figures out a way to test for a user being ¨High¨. I believe that once authorities can tell the difference between testing positive for marijuana in your system vs being ¨hïgh¨ (when you have your fatel accident involving other parties) They will be able to prosecute occordingly and feel justified passing the law. Lets face it the law isn´t meant to protect you from your own destructive habbits, it is there to protect everyone else´s right to not be affecting by someones poor judgement....
ReplyDeletefh_clan:
ReplyDeleteExcellent point!
Still, that hardly justifies the cost in lives from unnecessary police/civilian confrontations like Vincent Hodgkiss.
Donal:
That is why I went after Marijuana, preceisely because it is sooooooo easy.
The other drugs? Very tough. My sense is that this is more of a public health issue than a law enforcement issue (that just ain't working) and decriminalization is going to happen de facto due to continued budgetary forces.
I have no short answer. But I will be on the lookout for a proper COST/BENEFIT analysis, something we in the U.S. NEVER DO when considering public policy.
Publius:
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the keeping your nose clean... I call it keeping my head down. But this goes with all things.
Lastly, the PEOPLE are going to overturn this Law in California. The Obama Admin is not going to get into a pissing match with this state - too important to his agenda.
ReplyDeleteThe Gestapo won't have any say in the matter.
I think the big advantage is to remove the criminality and starve the drug machine of funds.
ReplyDeleteFor example, if the RotW bought up the opium in Afganistan for, say, 90% of market price, creating a legal market, and at the same time, cracked down hard on illegal trade, confiscating farms, destroying crops, etc. Once it had the bulk of the market the illegals would be driven out of business. Then it reduces the price it pays, making the crop uneconomic, at the same time establishing a good advance price for illegal crops.
The opium can be used for medical purposes, and to supply legally registered addicts, reducing criminality at home too(which is apparently the reason for up to 30% of crime).
As opium funds the Taliban and Al Qaida, it would probably save military expenditure too.
“It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana,” said Attorney General Eric Holder Jr.
ReplyDeleteHello!