Border agent hit, killed by suspect's car

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

My husband is trying to get into Border Patrol.

My little brother has been a BP agent since 2000. He is supposed to take a deportation officer position soon (desk job for the most part). It can't come too soon for me, I'm such a worrier. Some of the stories about what happens down there are scary (SE Arizona).

what did he think of this book?

It is indeed tiresome to read again that somehow illegal aliens are responsible for all the evil in the US. This guy got killed doing his duty and that's tragic whatever way you look at it and I don't think anyone here condones/apolgises for the actions of drug traffickers either.

However Troll isn't so far out of line suggesting legalising drugs would reduce this type of thing. Drug trafficking and everything that goes along with it is just one of the manifestations of some very destructive behaviours. Legalizing drugs would at least remove the marginalisation that surrounds it and creates these underground networks where law has very little meaning.

kinda like legalizing alcohol cut down on dwi and other alcohol related crimes?

Edited January 22, 2008 by charlesandnessa

[Peikko 1,575]

What's the problem with legalisation of all drugs? It's not like prescription drugs are exactly 'safe' and a lot of kids mess with prescription drugs. The realization should be that there are only a certain % of people who will ever experiment with and a much lesser % of people who will ever become hooked on drugs. Which drug they become hooked on seems to have no bearing on it's legal status.

I am not suggesting that these powerful chemicals should be popped in packets and marketed like sweets. I am suggesting though, that one could control the dosage makeup of drugs if they were legalized. That those who take these drugs could be monitored and maybe even helped if we knew where they were. Currently they are squirrelled away in an underground society which is completely lawless and results in some horrific criminal behaviour from both addicts and traffickers.

I don't think it's a magic panacea but to try to reduce the economic impact of the illegal drugs trade should be a priority. We aren't exactly solving the problem by putting traffickers out of business at present.

[Scott & Lai 12]

It is indeed tiresome to read again that somehow illegal aliens are responsible for all the evil in the US. This guy got killed doing his duty and that's tragic whatever way you look at it and I don't think anyone here condones/apolgises for the actions of drug traffickers either.

However Troll isn't so far out of line suggesting legalising drugs would reduce this type of thing. Drug trafficking and everything that goes along with it is just one of the manifestations of some very destructive behaviours. Legalizing drugs would at least remove the marginalisation that surrounds it and creates these underground networks where law has very little meaning.

Who said they were? And what does the hue of the perps in this case have to do with the topic or the OP?

I do fully agree, though, on the drug issue.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

My husband is trying to get into Border Patrol.

My little brother has been a BP agent since 2000. He is supposed to take a deportation officer position soon (desk job for the most part). It can't come too soon for me, I'm such a worrier. Some of the stories about what happens down there are scary (SE Arizona).

what did he think of this book?

I'll ask him if he's read it.

[Peikko 1,575]

No Charles, addicts will always behave in a way that is challenging to society. However, making these chemicals illegal is rather like what happened during the prohibition years.

[SMOKE 1,426]

No Charles, addicts will always behave in a way that is challenging to society. However, making these chemicals illegal is rather like what happened during the prohibition years.

chemicals-(coke, meth..etc.)alter peoples thought processes & seriously effect judgement. so they should remain illegal

marijauna-makes people more mellow, happy, tired & hungry. we got plenty of twinkies & beds around here. wouldn't mind it being legal at all.

Edited January 22, 2008 by SMOKE

[Empress of Groovy 373]

It is indeed tiresome to read again that somehow illegal aliens are responsible for all the evil in the US. This guy got killed doing his duty and that's tragic whatever way you look at it and I don't think anyone here condones/apolgises for the actions of drug traffickers either.

However Troll isn't so far out of line suggesting legalising drugs would reduce this type of thing. Drug trafficking and everything that goes along with it is just one of the manifestations of some very destructive behaviours. Legalizing drugs would at least remove the marginalisation that surrounds it and creates these underground networks where law has very little meaning.

kinda like legalizing alcohol cut down on dwi and other alcohol related crimes?

Legalizing alcohol certainly decreased crimes related to manufacture, distribution, and sale of booze.

I'd always thought that Frito-Lay would get behind legalization of marijuana.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think the subheading "another one killed in the line of duty" is what triggered the whole 'it's all the fault of brown people' blah blah blah.

[Peikko 1,575]

Alcohol severely alters people's ability to make judgments when consumed to excess so do any number of prescription drugs. This isn't really what the problem is though with drugs. The problems that relate to the illegality of drugs are where the majority of horrendous drug related crimes stem from.

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

It is indeed tiresome to read again that somehow illegal aliens are responsible for all the evil in the US. This guy got killed doing his duty and that's tragic whatever way you look at it and I don't think anyone here condones/apolgises for the actions of drug traffickers either.

However Troll isn't so far out of line suggesting legalising drugs would reduce this type of thing. Drug trafficking and everything that goes along with it is just one of the manifestations of some very destructive behaviours. Legalizing drugs would at least remove the marginalisation that surrounds it and creates these underground networks where law has very little meaning.

kinda like legalizing alcohol cut down on dwi and other alcohol related crimes?

Legalizing alcohol certainly decreased crimes related to manufacture, distribution, and sale of booze.

I'd always thought that Frito-Lay would get behind legalization of marijuana.

all legalizing did was allow the government to levy a tax on it. we still have homes impacted by alcohol and people still make it if they want.

why they got a chip planned already with that in it?

[Peikko 1,575]

I know it's a hard concept to swallow, that decriminalising drugs will somehow not result in a massive increase in people getting hooked on them, but for instance with alcohol the repeal in prohibition didn't massively increase the % of people who became addicted to this substance. There will be addicts until someone comes up with a way of controlling the addiction impulse. We can manage these addicts openly, or we can sweep them under the carpet.

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

Alcohol severely alters people's ability to make judgments when consumed to excess so do any number of prescription drugs. This isn't really what the problem is though with drugs. The problems that relate to the illegality of drugs are where the majority of horrendous drug related crimes stem from.

drink too much alcohol, die.

take too many drugs, die.

hmmmmm

[Peikko 1,575]

all legalizing did was allow the government to levy a tax on it

Quite simply untrue. Do you really have no idea what went on during prohibition or do you somehow think that the gangster culture was an entirely unrelated phenomenon?

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

I know it's a hard concept to swallow, that decriminalising drugs will somehow not result in a massive increase in people getting hooked on them, but for instance with alcohol the repeal in prohibition didn't massively increase the % of people who became addicted to this substance. There will be addicts until someone comes up with a way of controlling the addiction impulse. We can manage these addicts openly, or we can sweep them under the carpet.

so you want to open that pandora's box eh? i'll pass.

all legalizing did was allow the government to levy a tax on it

Quite simply untrue. Do you really have no idea what went on during prohibition or do you somehow think that the gangster culture was an entirely unrelated phenomenon?

i'm quite familiar with it. give us your version and let's see how rosy it was before during and after.

[Peikko 1,575]

drink too much alcohol, die.

take too many drugs, die.

hmmmmm

Hmm what? You are among the many who often complain about how much of a 'nanny state' you live in. Making drugs illegal pandered to a vocal minority of fundamentalist who are ready to blame anything on the evils of 'name your poison' and would be quite ready to bring back prohibition should someone stand on a platform and suggest it.

However, yes, fundamentally we have a proportion of society who are prone to addictive behaviour. We have no idea why they become addicted to the substances they become addicted to, and once again, this has nothing to do with whether a substance is illegal or not. All we know for sure is that it happens and I for one do not subscribe to the idea that it's 'devil's work'.

i'm quite familiar with it. give us your version and let's see how rosy it was before during and after

That's just meaningless twaddle Charles. Either put your opinion forward or leave the argument.