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Thanks, Robert Sterling Editor, The Konformist http://www.konformist.com http://www.konformist.com/2000/drugwar/drugwar.htm http://www.konformist.com/2000/drugwar/methlaw-loompanics.htm http://www.konformist.com/2000/drugwar/methlaw-lp.htm http://www.konformist.com/2000/drugwar/mcwilliams-lp.htm LP RELEASE: Memorial Day (William Winter) [EMAIL PROTECTED] =============================== NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org =============================== For release: May 26, 2000 =============================== For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =============================== On Memorial Day, let's remember the War on Drugs' 140,000 victims WASHINGTON, DC -- As America prepares to honor its military dead on Memorial Day 2000, perhaps it's time to remember the 140,000 tragic victims of another war: The War on Drugs. That's the very serious suggestion offered by the Libertarian Party today, as the nation gets ready to commemorate with parades and ceremonies the men and women who died fighting for freedom. "The 140,000 men, women, and children who died because of the War on Drugs are just as deserving of remembrance as the military personnel who died fighting America's other wars," said Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "Keep in mind, the War on Drugs has been one of the longest, costliest, and deadliest wars in U.S. history. The only difference is that our fallen veterans were killed by the guns and bombs of a foreign power -- while the victims of the War on Drugs were killed by the policies of their own government." But Memorial Day traditionally honors only war dead. Rhetoric aside, does the "War on Drugs" really qualify as a war? Absolutely, said Dasbach: The War on Drugs has lasted longer than any other war in U.S. history, has been more deadly than most conventional wars, has cost billions of dollars, and involves tens of thousands of military personnel. The numbers: * Duration: President Richard Nixon first officially declared a War on Drugs in 1972 -- so the conflict has been raging for 28 years. "The War on Drugs has lasted longer than World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War combined," noted Dasbach. "And since the enemy -- the 36% of Americans who have used drugs, or 94.7 million people -- just gets stronger every year, there's no end in sight." * Victims: Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman estimated that drug prohibition causes 5,000 homicides a year -- children killed in drive-by shootings, adults killed in drug-related robberies and murders, and so on. "If that number is accurate, the 28-year-long War on Drugs has resulted in 140,000 American casualties -- far more than the battlefield deaths of the Vietnam and Korean wars combined," said Dasbach. * Cost: Since 1989, the armed forces have spent in excess of $7 billion on anti-drug operations. In fiscal 1997 alone, the Pentagon appropriated $947 million for military anti-drug efforts. Where does that money go? To pay for the military personnel who inspect cargo for the U.S. Customs Agency, translate wiretaps for the DEA, analyze military intelligence files on foreign drug gangs, fly helicopters to transport police officers, track money-laundering operations for the Treasury Department, scan the Gulf of Mexico with radar, and disrupt drug sales on the streets of Washington, DC. * Troops: More than 8,000 military personnel and thousands of National Guard troops are currently participating in anti-drug missions on U.S. soil, according to government figures. "And those numbers don't include the 19,000 state and local law enforcement officials who are assigned full-time to the War on Drugs, and who are increasingly being armed with military-style weapons and tanks," said Dasbach. "The fact is, a massive army has been recruited for this war." In addition, high-tech military equipment has been thrown into the anti-drug battle, including AWAC reconnaissance planes and Relocatable-Over-the-Horizon Radar (ROTHER) installations. But despite all that money, equipment, and personnel, the DEA admits that only about 10% of illegal drugs entering the U.S. are seized by law enforcement officials, according to the Los Angeles Times -- which means that the War on Drugs has been a 90% defeat for the U.S. government. And that's why, said Dasbach, it's time to end the Drug War, declare a Drug Peace, and commemorate on Memorial Day the victims of this tragic war. "We honor the men and women of our armed forces because they were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect our nation," he said. "We should honor the 140,000 victims of the War on Drugs because they were sacrificed by politicians in an unwinnable war that has ravaged our nation for 28 years. "Our only hope is that by remembering them -- and the misguided war that killed them -- they will not have died in vain." Loompanics.com YOUR FREEDOM TO READ IS IN JEOPARDY! Senator Diane Feinstein of California and her cronies are at it again -- this time in regard to drugs -- with the Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act of 1999 (S. 1428). This bill will make it illegal to distribute information, pertaining to controlled substances. The Senate has already passed this bill without a single dissenting vote -- 88 to 0! H.R.2987 Sponsor: Rep Cannon, Chris (introduced 9/30/1999) Latest Major Action: 10/20/1999 Referred to House subcommittee Title: To provide for the punishment of methamphetamine laboratory operators, provide additional resources to combat methamphetamine production, trafficking, and abuse in the United States, and for other purposes. If this bill passes, you will no longer be able to order the following books from Loompanics: * Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture * Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic and Amphetamine Manufacture * Hydroponic Heroin * Opium for the Masses * Psychedelic Shamanism * Practical LSD Manufacture * Invisible Marijuana Gardens * Gourmet Cannabis Cookery * Psychedelic Chemistry * Recreational Drugs * The Construction and Operation of Clandestine Drug Laboratories* And those are just the books published by Loompanics! If this anti-American bill passes, we would have to pull virtually our entire DRUG section, because it will be illegal to talk about drugs without risking arrest! Your choices in reading material are about to be severely cut, again! The following books bit the dust last summer due to the bill that self-appointed book/mind censors Diane Feinstein and Orrin Hatch propelled through the Senate and House that made it illegal to distribute information (read books) relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction to anyone with intent to use said information for the purpose of committing a crime. Intent -- how can you tell? How can they? You have already lost your right to order the following books: *Hitman * 150 Questions for a Guerilla * 21 Techniques of Silent Killing * Bail Enforcer * 100 Deadliest Karate Moves * Deathtrap * Slash and Thrust * Death Dealer's Manual * Expedient B and E * Rolling Thunder * Ragnar's Guide to Detonators * Ragnar's guide to Home and Recreational Use of High Explosives * Breath of the Dragon * Home Workshop Explosives * Guerilla's Arsenal * Physical Interrogation Techniques * Guerilla Air Defense * Special Forces Guerilla Warfare Manual * Sneak It Through * Expedient Homemade Firearms * Medicine Chest Explosives * Car Bomb Recognition Guide * Decoy Ops * Improvised Radio Detonation Techniques * Kill Without Joy * Middle Eastern Terrorist Bomb Designs * Vestbusters Contact your representative and tell them to vote against the Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act of 1999 (S.1428) Your ability to read what you want without being branded a criminal is at stake. 5/25/00 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (William Winter) ----------------------------------------- NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org ----------------------------------------- For release: May 25, 2000 ----------------------------------------- For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------- Warning: This press release could be illegal under new anti-drug legislation WASHINGTON, DC -- Politicians are so desperate to win the War on Drugs that they're willing to outlaw this press release, the Libertarian Party said today. "Warning: This press release contains illegal information," said the party's National Director Steve Dasbach. "You could be prosecuted -- and sentenced to a 10-year prison term -- for reading it on the air, publishing it in a newspaper, or linking it to your website." The reason? Congress appears poised to pass legislation that would make it a crime to publicize information about illegal drugs. The bill, HR. 2987, would make it a federal felony to advertise, link a website to, or even publish certain kinds of factual data about drugs, drug culture, or drug paraphernalia. "The War on Drugs has been turned into a War on Words," said Dasbach. "This bill would make certain kinds of Constitutionally protected speech illegal, and give politicians the power to put Americans in prison for writing, posting, or advocating information the government doesn't like." The Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act, sponsored by senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) -- passed the Senate unanimously last November. It is now being considered by two House committees. Supporters say the bill is designed to fight so-called "meth labs," which produce a dangerous form of amphetamine. But the bill would go far beyond that, said Dasbach -- and would create several new "communication crimes," including: * Illegal linking (three years in prison): It would be illegal for any "communications facility to post, publicize, transmit, publish, link to, broadcast or otherwise advertise" -- or even provide "indirect advertising for" -- Internet sites that sell drug paraphernalia. "For example, this press release would be illegal if we mention that www.bongs.com has information about buying marijuana pipes," said Dasbach. "It could even be illegal if we provided this information so you could prevent your children from visiting that site." * Illegal teaching (10 years in prison). It would be illegal to tell someone how to produce an illegal drug, such as growing marijuana. "It would be a felony to mention that you can purchase a book about growing marijuana at www.marijuana-hemp.com," said Dasbach. "It could even be a felony if you intended to grow marijuana in a state where medical marijuana is legal, and you planned to grow it for bona fide medical reasons." The bill is a dangerous expansion of government power, said Dasbach, because although politicians now have the power to outlaw certain activities, the First Amendment prohibits them from outlawing speech about those illegal activities. "Politicians have already made possession of drugs a crime -- now they want to make possession of press releases, books, newspapers, magazines, and websites about drugs a crime," he said. "If this bill passes, the War on Drugs will have escalated into a full fledged War on the First Amendment." [EMAIL PROTECTED] (William Winter) =============================== NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org =============================== For release: June 17, 2000 =============================== For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =============================== Bestselling author Peter McWilliams was "murdered by the War on Drugs" WASHINGTON, DC -- Peter McWilliams, the #1 bestselling author and medical marijuana activist who was found dead in California on June 14, was murdered by the War on Drugs, the Libertarian Party charged today. "Peter McWilliams would not be dead today if not for the heartless, lethal War on Drugs," said Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "The federal government killed Peter McWilliams by denying him the medical marijuana he needed to stay alive as surely as if its drug warriors had put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. "Peter McWilliams may be dead, but the causes he so bravely fought for -- access to life-saving medicine, an end to the War on Drugs, and greater freedom for all Americans -- will live on." On Wednesday, McWilliams was found dead in the bathroom of his Los Angeles home. According to sources, he had choked on his vomit. McWilliams, 50, had suffered from AIDS and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since 1996, and had used medical marijuana to suppress the nausea that was a common side-effect to the potent medications needed to keep him alive. The marijuana was completely legal, thanks to California's Proposition 215, which passed in 1996 and legalized the use of marijuana for treatment of illness. However, in late 1997, McWilliams was arrested by federal drug agents and charged with conspiracy to sell marijuana. After a federal judge ruled that McWilliams could not mention his illnesses at his trial -- or introduce as evidence any of the documented benefits of medical marijuana -- he pled guilty to avoid a 10-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence. While out on bail awaiting sentencing, McWilliams was prohibited from using medical marijuana -- and being denied access to the drug's anti-nausea properties almost certainly caused his death, said Dasbach. "First, the federal government arrested McWilliams for doing something that is 100% legal in California," he said. "Then, they put him on trail and wouldn't allow him to introduce the one piece of evidence that could have explained his actions. Finally, they let him out of jail on the condition that he couldn't use the one medicine that kept him alive. "What the federal government did to Peter McWilliams is nothing less that cold-blooded, premeditated murder. A good, decent, talented man is dead because of the bipartisan public policy disaster known as the War on Drugs." Ironically, on June 9, McWilliams appeared on the "Give Me A Break!" segment of ABC Television's 20/20, where host John Stossel noted, "[McWilliams] is out of prison on the condition that he not smoke marijuana, but it was the marijuana that kept him from vomiting up his medication. I can understand that the federal drug police don't agree with what some states have decided to do about medical marijuana, but does that give them the right to just end run those laws and lock people up? "Give me a break! [It] seems this War on Drugs often does more harm than the drugs themselves." Five days later, McWilliams was dead. McWilliams, the owner of Prelude Press, was a multi-million-copy-selling author of How to Survive the Loss of a Love, The Personal Computer Book, and DO IT! Let's Get Off Our Buts (with co-author John-Roger), a #1 New York Times bestseller. He also wrote what is widely considered to be the definitive book against "consensual" crimes, Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do. He joined the Libertarian Party in 1998 following a nationally televised speech at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC. In that speech, McWilliams said, "Marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science, and our leaders have lied about this consistently. [Arresting people for] medical marijuana is the most hideous example of government interference in the private lives of individuals. It's an outrage within an outrage within an outrage." McWilliams' death was also noted by Libertarians in his home state. "Peter McWilliams was a true hero who fought and ultimately gave his life for what he believed in: The right to heal oneself without government interference," said Mark Hinkle, state chair of the California Libertarian Party. "His loss opens a gaping hole in the fabric of liberty, but his memory will live on not only in the hearts of grateful Libertarians but also in the lives of the countless patients who will take up the crusade for health freedom." If you are interested in a free subscription to The Konformist Newswire, please visit http://www.eGroups.com/list/konformist/ and sign up. Or, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject: "I NEED 2 KONFORM!!!" (Okay, you can use something else, but it's a kool catch phrase.) Visit the Klub Konformist at Yahoo!: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/klubkonformist
