Every time I turn on the news and hear of the continuing atrocities occurring at the border of the United States and Mexico, and of shootings committed for similar reasons in a city near where I live, I become incensed. The legal system and law enforcement officials in both countries simply must find some way to curtail the callused devaluing of life by the shooters and their captains. I have no sympathy for the participants of the contesting gangs—they do not deserve to live—but I have gained all sympathy for the innocent victims and their families and the law enforcement personnel who find themselves in harm’s way. We must find some way to help and protect these people.
But I recognize, as well, the culpability of American citizens or people on our side of the border. I am ashamed of the people in our country who are the market for the drug traffic that these wars are being fought over. To satisfy their addictions or habits or pleasures they continue to buy illegal drugs that come across our borders. In a slightly detached way they are therefore as guilty as the shooters for if there was no market there would be no wars for distribution ‘rights.’ Although we rarely talk about it anymore, drug use is just as big a blight on our culture as it ever was. And the penalties for those who are pushers or users should be as great or greater than ever.
If every druggie or user in our land would think before they made their purchase that their indulgence may have just caused the death or agony or permanent handicap or disfigurement of an innocent boy or girl or father or mother, and ask themselves, Is this ‘hit’ worth it?, perhaps this barbarity would end.
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