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News & ArtsMonday, November 28, 2011
Drugs Another Glorious Victory in America's Glorious War On Drugs
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 6:32 AM
Iraq war vet shot 22 times in his own home—true, he grabbed a gun as the local keystone SWAT team was breaking down his door... maybe because he was an IRAQ WAR VET. The availability and price of illegal narcotics were not impacted by the gangland-style execution of this vet. No one could've predicted.
1
Also maybe because they were breaking down his door. In the linked article, a police spokesperson asks "What reasonable person comes to the front door and points a rifle at people?"
I'd turn that around and ask what the policeman would do if he heard a big crash in the front room?
I'd turn that around and ask what the policeman would do if he heard a big crash in the front room?
2
I believe the War on Drugs to be a necessary evil, but it does seem as though these types of raids are used a bit too much. Serving a no-knock warrant violates the sanctity of a man's home in the worst way possible and of course innocent people may be harmed. Any good that is accomplished by suppressing the illegal drug trade and the violence associated with it needs to be weighed against the potential consequences of a mistake.
3
As a war veteran myself, I feel for the family of the victim.
But I'm also conflicted. While the raid itself seems unnesscary, the shooting probably wasn't. If Ortiz was alive today, I bet he might even agree; if you're clearing a room and you see a weapon, you don't wait to check to see if the safety is on, or if it's loaded. Things are moving so fast, you don't have the time to notice small details like that. If I remember right, Bin Laden was only moving towards an AK when the SEALS shot him, he didn't even have it his hands.
I tell my soldiers that at the end of the day, you're coming home alive. That's all that matters.
Then again, there's a fundamental difference between a military operation and a police raid, I suppose. It's a complicated issue, at the least.
But still, a needless death. The raid should never have occurred. Semper Fi, buddy.
But I'm also conflicted. While the raid itself seems unnesscary, the shooting probably wasn't. If Ortiz was alive today, I bet he might even agree; if you're clearing a room and you see a weapon, you don't wait to check to see if the safety is on, or if it's loaded. Things are moving so fast, you don't have the time to notice small details like that. If I remember right, Bin Laden was only moving towards an AK when the SEALS shot him, he didn't even have it his hands.
I tell my soldiers that at the end of the day, you're coming home alive. That's all that matters.
Then again, there's a fundamental difference between a military operation and a police raid, I suppose. It's a complicated issue, at the least.
But still, a needless death. The raid should never have occurred. Semper Fi, buddy.
4
The WoD is not a necessary evil; the vast majority of the damage inflicted is in the cure, not the illness. It's kind of like saying you have to use Chemo or amputation to treat an ingrown toenail. No thank you!
We should do things to address substance abuse in our society, but we should be smart about it. There is simply no excuse for doling out a death sentence without a trial - and that is not hyperbole, that is the direct consequence of the use of these militaristic tactics in the prosecution of the 'War On Drugs' - this guy was NOT killed by his drug problem. Just ridiculous.
We should do things to address substance abuse in our society, but we should be smart about it. There is simply no excuse for doling out a death sentence without a trial - and that is not hyperbole, that is the direct consequence of the use of these militaristic tactics in the prosecution of the 'War On Drugs' - this guy was NOT killed by his drug problem. Just ridiculous.
5
I don't blame the cops or the victims. I blame the people who ordered the raid. These raids are dangerous for both the cops and for the suspects. Can't we at least reserve them for those suspected of violent crimes? Senseless.
7
The purpose of these raids isn't "the war on drugs". It's to keep the revenue stream coming in. I'm sure the fellow who was shot, or his family, have some nice cars, computers, maybe that rug (if it doesn't have blood on it); the cops get to take all that stuff and keep it for themselves, or sell it and keep the money, whether the guy is ever charged with a crime or not. Asset forfeiture is the real reason behind the drug war.
8
@5 I agree. Based on the article Dan linked us to, it sounds like all they had on the guy was that he hung out with narcos. It should take more than a poor choice of friends to bring a SWAT team through your front door.
9
This isn't a "War on Drugs": Drugs are inanimate objects; war is mutually declared aggression. Call it what is really is: a Genocide on Drug Users, Merchants, and Producers.
See also: "War on Terror".
See also: "War on Terror".
10
A vote for Obama is a vote for the war on drugs and this kind of pointless tragedy (along with all the other pointless tragedies Obama supports).
11
On the video, that raid looks like Black Friday at WalMart. I'm no commando expert, but it sure seemed like they were all tripping over each other trying to get into the door. Then, as soon as the shooting started, they were all tripping over each other (and in each others' lines of fire?) trying to get back OUT the door.
I'm sure some paramilitary protocreep would shout at me about a "Precision Controlled Tactical MANOUVER!" But it sure looked like the opposite.
I'm sure some paramilitary protocreep would shout at me about a "Precision Controlled Tactical MANOUVER!" But it sure looked like the opposite.
12
This keeps happening because the police have very poor information to start with. On top of that you have some very trigger happy cops with little proper training. Frankly I'd trust the war vet sooner than a cop.
13
And the militarization of local PD's continues...
I'm a war veteran, fellow Marine, and a lawful gun owner myself. If someone busted my door down, the last thing on my mind would be to wonder if they are cops or not, because I have no fucking reason to have cops busting my door down!
I'm gonna stop now. This story pisses me off far too much for me to stop and be any kind of rational about it...
I'm a war veteran, fellow Marine, and a lawful gun owner myself. If someone busted my door down, the last thing on my mind would be to wonder if they are cops or not, because I have no fucking reason to have cops busting my door down!
I'm gonna stop now. This story pisses me off far too much for me to stop and be any kind of rational about it...
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