Aug 21, 2006
LEAP
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition is a group of current and former police officers, judges, prosecutors, and elected officials who've come out against the drug war. Their introductory video is below.
I think it's a pretty damned powerful video. The guilt, regret, and introspection apparent in these former cops is striking -- and admirable.
I also think this group needs more attention. They've grown from five founders to around 5,000 members in just a few years, with an eye toward 10,000 by November 2008. These are the guys on the front lines of the drug war. And they're speaking the truth about its futility, its brutality, and its wholesale disregard for civil liberties.
So pass this video on. The academics who read this site might want to show it to classes or student groups. Or better yet, book one of their speakers to lecture in person.
I'd also encourage L&P bloggers to post this video on your personal websites sometime in the next week. Let's see if we can't create a blogburst to get these guys some needed publicity.
(Self promotion and disclosure: Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper, who sort of narrates the video, will be speaking at the Cato forum on my paper next month.)
I think it's a pretty damned powerful video. The guilt, regret, and introspection apparent in these former cops is striking -- and admirable.
I also think this group needs more attention. They've grown from five founders to around 5,000 members in just a few years, with an eye toward 10,000 by November 2008. These are the guys on the front lines of the drug war. And they're speaking the truth about its futility, its brutality, and its wholesale disregard for civil liberties.
So pass this video on. The academics who read this site might want to show it to classes or student groups. Or better yet, book one of their speakers to lecture in person.
I'd also encourage L&P bloggers to post this video on your personal websites sometime in the next week. Let's see if we can't create a blogburst to get these guys some needed publicity.
(Self promotion and disclosure: Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper, who sort of narrates the video, will be speaking at the Cato forum on my paper next month.)