Pete speaks

Pete at Drug WarRanthas been posting circles around me lately and has a lot you shouldn't miss. He covers the story on the latest drug victim Cheryl Noel, 44, who was shot and killed by police during a drug raid that netted so small an amount of marijuana the surviving defendants were charged for possession and released on their own recognizance. Oh and one guy was charged with black powder possession, whatever that is. I thought that was something they use in antique guns.

This whole police commando raid thing has got to go. What is it anyway with the ski masks and flash bombs? Pete notes they break down the door to make sure the evidence isn't flushed but if the evidence is small enough to flush, how does that justify sending in a freaking SWAT team? It's all so inhumane. As Pete put it, "To the drug warrior, evidence has a higher value than people's lives." Pete should know. He's been keeping track and the list grows longer every day.

Pete also has some thoughts on the Government's Free Ride on Prohibition. Prodded by everyone's favorite commenter Kaptinemo, Pete reflects on how the feds get away with outright lying about the "danger of drugs." He thinks the recent car dog sniff case, Caballes, will encourage the Supremes to uphold dog sniffs of houses. I think with or without Caballes - they were leaning towards that anyway.

He has more to say on the case here and reminds us, just in case you were thinking this might be good for homeland security, that dogs either sniff for drugs or bombs, not both.