Drug arrest

[Gnostic]

DENVER (AP) - Timmy Smith, who set a Super Bowl rushing record when he played for the Washington Redskins in 1988, has been arrested after allegedly trying to sell cocaine to an undercover drug agent.

Smith, 41, of Denver and his brother, Chris, of suburban Lakewood, were in custody and due in court Monday, U.S. attorney's spokesman Jeff Dorschner said Friday. They could face charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
Bond had not been set and it was unclear if they had lawyers by early Friday evening.

"It doesn't matter how famous you are, what sport you play or what records you hold," said Jeffrey D. Sweetin, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Rocky Mountain Division. "The American people will not tolerate such disregard for the law, and neither will the DEA."

The rest of this story can be found at the following MSNBC URL;
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4920896


The reason I'm posting this is in direct reference to the comment made by the DEA agent. I would like to know, for instance, where they get off by exclaiming "The American People will not tolerate this and neither will we" idiocy. Who, may I ask, is he referring to? Is he trying to hide behind that lame claim in order to continue to justify his worthless taxpayer funded job? I for one am against the so-called and farcical "drug war" and so do many others I know who are NOT users and we consider ourselves "the American People", or at least part of it. What planet is this guy on? Oh, and I just love the way he tries to make an example out of this poor schmuck. How many rich guys get off scot free in our broken legal system and courts? How many has THIS DEA fool let go? But now it's goat time. Poor goat.

(Apologies to moderators for putting this in breaking news)

[BikeWriter]

1. Uh, has this guy been tried and convicted already?

[MercutioATC]

2. "Poor schmuck"? Smith is an ex-NFL star and had a kilo of cocaine.

We're not talking about busting somebody for possession...


Agree with drug laws or not, they DO exist. This DEA agent was just doing his job.

[BikeWriter]

4. It is not his job to be judge and jury, nor to prosecute the case...

in the media.

[MercutioATC]

5. No, but I wouldn't characterize him as a "poor schmuck".

[Gnostic]

6. So the existence of laws make them right?

I'm not pointing at the player and saying he's being unfairly treated (though he IS being made an example of). It's the law and this DEA agent's attitude and comments that rile me. Yes, drug laws exist, and the attitude that because they exist that they are justifiable is the same attitude that will ensure their continued survival and application.

Plainly put, I don't care how much coke this guy was trying to sell or have. It was his choice and it's the choice of those who want to buy it. He was'nt caught trying to get 12 year olds in a schoolyard hooked on the stuff and he was'nt trying to pass it out to the local boy scout chapter. Who cares? Why do private transactions need to be scrutinized and placed under a microscope? I find it creepy personally. I also find the entire drug war farce an excellent excuse for government to do so in our private lives.

But you seem to think fed-guv intrusion into our private dealings acceptable as long as there is a "law" stating it's OK to do so. That's nice.

[MercutioATC]

7. That's absolutely NOT what I said.

Yes, I believe that SOME intrusion is O.K. ("intrusion" is how they catch bad guys). Whether you agree with drug laws or not, they exist. I think it's great that at least they're being applied to a celebrity this time.

By living in a society we agree to cede some of our personal rights to the whole. If you don't agree with laws, you can work to change them but it's not O.K. to simply ignore them.

[fizzgig]

3. not in defense of anything

but in my experience working at a newspaper, i know that a lot of press releases (and i know that quote came from a press release because i got it too) contain quotes that are made up by the person issuing the press release

just my two cents