Who would YOU raid?
"Enforcing the law" is no excuse for ruining and destroying lives.
June 12 is the anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision, which struck down state bans on miscegenation. The Lovings were an interracial couple who had married in Washington, D.C. They were raided by police in their Virginia home and charged with "illicit cohabitation." They were, in effect, deported from their state. Years later, they joined with the ACLU to challenge the law in court.
June 14 is the anniversary of the death of Peter McWilliams in 2000. He was a medical marijuana activist and entrepreneur. Although medical marijuana was legal in his state, his business was raided by federal agents. McWilliams was then prohibited from using medical marijuana himself, although he relied on it to prevent vomiting up his cancer medication. His death was a result of vomiting.
The two anniversaries seem unrelated. The Loving decision was a triumph for civil rights, whereas the unjust death of McWilliams was a low point in the War on Drugs. On the other hand, both issues are ultimately about personal liberty, and we've seen progress. Loving broadened the scope of marriage equality and was a precedent in Obergefell v. Hodges which legalized gay marriage nationwide. And since 2000, dozens of states have liberalized marijuana laws and, although still a gray area, raids upon people like McWilliams are supposedly a thing of the past.
Something else I find in common is that there were police and agents willing to enforce interracial marriage and medical marijuana laws with a clear conscience. Willing to participate in these raids.
Raids against people who weren't violent. Who weren't stealing. Who weren't defacing other people's property. Who weren't fraudsters. Who weren't reckless with other people's lives or property.
No. The police raids were against people who were harming nobody, who were minding their own business.
Against peaceful people.
How can law enforcement agencies justify such raids?
"We have to enforce the law."
Well, what if you don't have to?
Unjust laws may be difficult to repeal, but they don't have to be enforced. There are countless silly and unenforceable laws across the country. You may be breaking some laws today as a matter of routine.
Do committing such victimless crimes lead to bigger crimes? "I got away with selling weed. Now I'm going to see if I can get away with murder."
Conscience doesn't work like that. Conscience knows the difference between selling a product that people want, and hurting people.
I want the police to investigate violent acts. I don't want them to raid bedrooms or marijuana dispensaries. They'd probably do a better job solving murders if they weren't busy going after peaceful people.
Before saying "there ought to be a law against…" ask yourself if you would personally be willing to enforce it. If you would participate in a raid with guns, batons, and handcuffs. Ask yourself if this is important enough to ruin someone's life.
Or if it’s better to just leave others alone in peace.
James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. If you enjoy his articles, subscribe and exchange value for value. You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com. Permission to reprint is granted with attribution.
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