THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 1996 TAG: 9604240002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
While I agree that drug use is a problem in the United States, I am greatly disturbed that Walter Clough (letter, April 12) is advocating a move to the police-state tactics used by the Chinese Communists for 47 years.
Prosecution and punishment of drug users and dealers is at a historic high in this country. We have more prisons and prisoners now than at any other time, yet there is still a huge drug problem. In order for the ``solution'' Mr. Clough advocates to work, every liberty that he now takes for granted would have to be taken away from him. He would have no rights and no recourse if he felt that the government had wronged him.
As an officer of the United States Navy, I have spent the past 4 years standing the watch for this country. During this time, I have watched my fellow Americans become, in large part, seemingly eager to give away what was won so long ago - people who seem to have forgotten that the foundation of this country was and is freedom. I cannot begin to imagine what would make a person advocate changing this country into a police state, regardless of the supposed benefits.
THOMAS L. JORGENSEN
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
Norfolk, April 17, 1996 by CNB