Tabloids, Vallone Deride "Drug Dealer Protection Act"

You know, if those "loony" liberals succeed in repealing the Rockefeller-era drug laws, New York State's going to become a crime-infested hellhole, where "crackheads, dopers and drug gangs will rule the streets." At least that's how the Daily News sees it in today's editorial, a demagogic rant that's almost surely plagiarized from an Archie Bunker monologue. In the editorial board's eyes, the deal reached by Paterson and state lawmakers to let judges send first-time drug offenders to treatment instead of prison amounts to a "Drug Dealer Protection Act" that "all but decriminalizes the possession and sale of narcotics in New York State." Yeah, what's next Paterson, the Helping Homicidal Robots Bill?

Then there's the New York Post, which applauds Democrats for their enlightened philosophy about helping drug addicts with treatment programs. Kidding, the Post wants to frighten and enrage the masses, too: "When New York is falling apart fiscally—with the subways set to follow suit in short order—what does it say about Albany that it's closer to a deal to free felons than it is to fixing what ails New York as a whole?"

And not to be outdone, Astoria Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. doesn't just blame his party for setting free the cracked-out criminals, but also for driving away the defenseless rich people with taxes. In an unsolicited e-mail to Politicker, he declares, "In 2 days, Albany has waged class war on our top earners, while surrendering in the drug war. At least the budget is balanced when it comes to the population on our streets—the fleeing tax payers will be replaced by drug dealers." Maybe we should start taxing the drugs, then?

Meanwhile, on planet Bleeding Heart, NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman released a statement calling the bill "an important step toward safer, healthier communities. We need to urge our leaders to support it." They'll vote tomorrow, so enjoy this last night of safety in a crime-free city everybody.

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By John Del Signore in News on March 30, 2009 2:56 PM

Comments [rss]

sensibile

Some of you need to learn more about the RDL before you comment.

Consider this:

<ul>

<li>It ensares the street runner, the drug addict, and the "girlfriend" while allowing the bosses to go free by striking plea deals. This encourages people to go up the "food chain".</li>

<li>RDL causes wildly differential sentencing in cocaine v. crack. Even through crack is watered down cocaine. Meaning the rich who can afford cocaine (with bailout money for sure) even when caught get less time.</li>

<li>It costs $45k a year to lock someone up in NYS, so after 20 years we've essentially spent a million to lock someone up. And we can't find something better to do with that money that will keep us safe & clean them up? I don't believe that.</li>

<li>The Racism and Hypocrisy. Most 30-20 y/o white men I've met have used drugs. Everything from Coke, Heroin, Crack, Weed, Meth, prescription stuff, E, and all the homemade ways to get high. The vast majority turn out jsut fine. Thats hypocrisy. The issue is not the drugs, but the combination of drugs and poverty. So why not work on the poverty?</li>

</ul>

cmdrogogov

Legalize it, tax it, use the proceeds to pay for treament, healthcare and support facilities.

It works for smoking, why not for anything else?

...oh yeah, that's why. A small subsection of the terminally righteously indignant would start yelling and not shut up until the rest of the world had to live their lives by their rules. Silly me.

longacre

Why not just turn Staten Island into "Hamsterdam?"

Bernie Madoff-Goetz

I'd still like some sort of rule that says serial drug offenders are subject to the draconian rules of yore but otherwise hope that this results in fewer lives ruined over casual drug use and more available jail cells for repeat violent offenders who clearly cannot be reformed (for an example see the NINE-TIME convicted robber who is currently suing the granny w/ the .357.)

Kevin Walsh

The jones for drugs this society has is insatiable, much to my bewilderment.

If NYC is going to repeal the Rockefeller drug laws, they have to come up with an alternative to keeping druggies and their attendant crime away from me.

www.forgotten-ny.com

SP

wow, you really just don't get it, it's amazing. The criminality only exists because the laws have created it. Do you see lots of criminality associated with alcohol? No. But during prohibition days, you saw exactly the same stuff you see today with drugs. Legalize it, regulate it, tax it. Only then will the criminality go away. As long as we keep drugs illegal, we will continue to suffer from drug related crime.

starrygordon

I don't see why small-time private drug dealers should be harmed. I do think large corporations should be restrained from getting into the business and soaking everyone with advertising encouraging drug use as they used to do with alcoholic and tobacco products.

ides_of_march

I agree, possession of small amounts of drugs should be decriminalized. But the penalties for dealers and traffickers should be increased dramatically, I'm thinking noose and trap door.

Geoelh

Oughta be a law

And a war against that too!

Good money after bad.

WesleySnipesAlot

Won't somebody please think of the children? If we can't have them locked up for smoking pot, taking the onus off us and onto the state to care for them, what on earth will we do? BE RESPONSIBLE PARENTS?!?! (shudder)