Pubdate: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 Source: Waukesha Freeman (WI) Copyright: 2001 The Waukesha Freeman Address: 801 N. Barstow St., POB 7, Waukesha, WI 53187 Fax: (262) 542-8259 Note: The Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsin www.drugsense.org/dpfwi Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids) BOTCHED DRUG RAID NOT A SURPRISE Your Feb. 16 article about the drug raid in Muskego, "Woman in botched bust says she'll get legal counsel," was shocking, but no surprise. The raid illustrates you don't have to be involved with illegal drugs to get caught up in our nation's failed war on some drugs. The treatment Sue Wilson received at the hands of the raiding party that stormed her home is an everyday occurrence. Prohibitionist propaganda has made it acceptable to demonize illegal drug users in much the same way the Nazis demonized the Jews. It made it OK to terrorize Sue Wilson until they realized they had the wrong address. It will take a long time to put the terror she endured behind her. At least she didn't get shot, like other civilians caught in the crossfire. Even patients who use medical marijuana to regain a little quality of life are fair game. Taxpayers are also in the crossfire, paying tens of billions each year to wage war on their fellow Americans, and they'll be paying to settle this, too. These are not isolated incidents. A quick search of the archives of the Media Awareness Project (www.mapinc.org) turned up hundreds of news articles about drug raids gone bad. This "Berlin Wall" of the drug war threatens everyone's civil liberties. Drug war exemptions have gutted our Constitution and Bill of Rights. It is time for the wall to come down. Gary Storck Madison - --- MAP posted-by: Terry F