Reply #16: Wow ... an amazing leap of logic [View All]

First of all, let's call it what it was--the child was not "tasting beer," so why argue about that point? As far as I know, no one in this country has ever been prosecuted for allowing a child to taste beer. If you can cite such a case, please post it because I would agree then that would be a "questionable local law," as surely it would do little harm, as evidenced by the fact that a typical dose of cough medicine has more alcohol in it than a sip of beer.

Instead, the photo showed the child with a pot pipe. I see a huge difference between smoking marijuana and sipping beer--as does the law. Smoking marijuana is illegal--whether you agree it should be or not, it is illegal.


This is not a case of the government invasion of privacy in the home. These were not "government cameras"--these two morons took the incriminating photo themselves. They brought it to another person to have it developed, and in doing so eliminated any expectation of privacy they may have had.

And again, you argue that this is a "common vice." Smoking pot may well be a mere vice--and I would agree that our drug laws are far too harsh--however the issue at hand does not involve an adult, but a child. Encouraging children to smoke marijuana--or simulating the smoking or marijuana--should be prosecuted as the crime it is--child abuse.

I'm not sure which liberties you feel are on the line here, as you don't specify. The "liberty" to abuse children? To allow children to ingest illegal drugs? To use children to promote your own drug use?

I don't believe that it takes an army of "Ashcroft-led, jack-booted government task-forces" to enforce laws to protect children, nor does it take "bigger corporate prisons" (I like how you slipped in the 'corporate' part--very clever, but again, you presume too much). As for the "ight-wing death squads," mere hyperbole, an appeal to the emotion, rather than the intellect.

Without a doubt you and I would agree that there are some ridiculous laws out there. Should the use of marijuana by consenting adults be illegal? No. But, it is. However, we have a system--an imperfect system, yes, but our system, nonetheless--for challenging and changing laws with which we do not agree. Heck, we even have a tradition in this country of *breaking laws* with which we do not agree, but when we do we must be willing to bear the consequences of our actions.

However, this case is not about a political statement, it is about abusing a child. If there is one duty I believe we should hold above all others, it is our obligation to protect our children.

Now, I'm sure someone will try to paint me as a pro-life, Newt-Gingrich-style-orphanage promoter, but that would be inaccurate. I do believe that we, as a society, can find a middle ground, a reasonable consensus around these issues.