Make Americans safer by repealing victimless crime laws

www.lp.org/lpnews ^ | 7.25.03 | Bill Winter

[A CA Guy]

Just came to say high to the anarchists.

[CWOJackson]

You're really going to have to start posting scantily clad women or something attention getting on these posts if you want then to get some mileage. Just look at this thread. How many drug warrior taunts were just wasted for nothing whatsoever. Look at how long it's been up and all you have is pretty much the same lp bobble-heads cutting and pasting their posts from the last 148 posts just like this one.

Now you post "Harry Browne Says Dope Should Be Legal (Semi-nude photos of Angelina Jolia included)" and these threads will get some real attention.

[secretagent]

Is DUI/DWI a victimless crime when no damage has been done?

Depends on the level of intoxification, and the behavior of the driver. Threat of physical harm to others seems properly a crime to me.

[Rodney King]

Oh, I was just kidding re: marijuna being a gateway drug. Forgot the /Sarcasm tag.

[e_engineer]

I don't have any desire to live in the past, but I would like to make the future better for my children. Many conservatives feel that the government is too big and is doing lots of things the founding fathers never intended it to do. I agree with this, but I'm no anarchist. I don't want to overthrow or eliminate the government, I just want it to remain within the boundaries set for it by the constitution.

[itzmygun]

in another 31 states, it's a "secondary" offense, and you can only be ticketed if you're pulled over for another infraction.

Yeah, that's what our State (West Virginia) Law says, but somehow, they had checkpoints set up last year for this. Maybe they used some stupid excuse (checking for winter tires or something), but I have yet to hear an explanation.

In Alabama, it is illegal to go hunting on Sunday.

Here too. Last year we even voted on legalizing it. In a BIG hunting state I expected it to pass, but somehow it turned into this big scare about how farmers would be overrun with trespassers. Why would this only happen on Sunday? Once again, I have been offered no good explanation. It failed in every county 2 (and sometimes 3) to 1.

* Abolish laws that make marijuana illegal.

The only time marijuana is a gateway drug is when you can't get marijuana - totally the fault of it being illegal. In the past few years, I have been studying wild medicinal herbs and such and there are plenty of buzzes out there growing in your back yard. The only problem is that most are much more dangerous than marijuana. I remember a story a couple of years ago about some kids getting into some jimsonweed - and dying. This is a plant that can be found just about anywhere.
The WODers need to realize that the in the war on drugs, the drugs are not the enemy. They enemy is whatever makes people think they need to take a chance of killing themselves to escape reality (and marijuana itself has never killed anyone).

[jmc813]

You're really going to have to start posting scantily clad women

Ask and thou shalt receive...

Look at how long it's been up and all you have is pretty much the same lp bobble-heads cutting and pasting their posts from the last 148 posts just like this one.

Compared to the ultra-witty responses like...

Hey everyone, it's another invitation to anarchy by Libertarians/libertarians.

and

Just came to say high to the anarchists.

Now you post "Harry Browne Says Dope Should Be Legal (Semi-nude photos of Angelina Jolia included)" and these threads will get some real attention.

I swear I'm not gay, but honestly, Angelina Jolie does absolutely nothing for me whatsoever. I don't know why everyone thinks she's so hot. It's like Julia Roberts, everyone says she's so beautiful, but I personally think she looks like the ass-end of a dolphin.

[Mikey]

".There's no way to rule innocent men."

In this country, the governemnet is supposed to serve, not rule.

[Mikey]

No problem.

[Henrietta]

"In this country, the governemnet is supposed to serve, not rule."

I agree but try telling that to the "ruling class." They don't want to serve, they want to rule.

[William Terrell]

It's not against the law to hunt on Sunday. Not only do I and my friends hunt on Sunday, entire hunting clubs do so and have been checked by the game warden on that day. In the Alabama rule book for hunting, Sundays are not left out in the dates and times section.

[CWOJackson]

Oh great, now whenever I see Julia Roberts I'll always think of dolphin safe tuna.

I have to admit I'm not much of a Jolie (she seems to be the hot number right now) or Roberts fan, even though I prefer brunettes. And while I'm not a raving blond fan I do like Cameron Diaz.

Still, the picture you posted is a good start but you still need to work it into the thread titles somehow...create a draw for the other 99.6% of people who post on FR to look at the thread. You might even want to turn the title around a bit to put the hook up front: "Semi-nude photos of Angelina Jolie (Harry Browne Says Dope Should Be Legal)"

Just a suggestion. I just don't know why this thread went flat so quickly. A few months back and it would have been in the smokey back room within six hours but at least it would have gotten some mileage.

[jmc813]

Just a suggestion. I just don't know why this thread went flat so quickly. A few months back and it would have been in the smokey back room within six hours but at least it would have gotten some mileage.

Probably because it's the weekend. Anyhow, what's you opinion on the indivdual laws the author brings up? Seatbelts, scalping, sex, fornication, adultery. cohabitation, blue laws, and gambling?

[CWOJackson]

I'll give you an even better example. In King County Washington a Noxious Weed Control Officer can come onto your property without a search warrant (seriously). They can then issue you a citation ordering you to remove any noxious weeds found on your property. If you fail to remove those weeds they can hire a contractor to perform the work then bill you. If you refuse to pay they can attach your property.

Now talk about victimless crime. There are three full time Noxious Weed Control Officers on duty with this kind of power.

That is why there are people here working to get this changed. As for the some of the specifics mentioned in the article, I have mixed feelings on many of those issues that for the most part can't be quickly addressed.

Fornication - easy for me, as long as it's private and between consenting adults, and doesn't involve cohersion or other elements...none of the government's business.

Scalping? Are they charging and paying tax? If they are charging tax and paying it to the proper revenue agency, cool.

Seat belts. I would only want to see this repealed ALONG with statuatory limits on what insurance companies have to pay for injuries sustained by motorists not electing to wear seatbelts. If I don't have to pay for their injuries through increased insurance premiums let everyone unbuckle.

Partial nudity in these threads? All for it, as long as it's done in good taste and the girls are legal age.

[gitmo]

I never understood why it's immoral to have casinos in the state, but it's great for the state to run gambling operations.

I would include zoning laws as victimless crime laws, as well as most all laws dictating what people do with "their" property.

I tend to draw the line with drug laws. I saw some guys in college who endangered those around them, even long after thay had partaken of their drugs. I think it's prudent for the government to prevent the usage of certain mind-altering drugs.

Gun laws shouldn't even have to be part of the discussion. But the Constitution has become pretty passe, hasn't it?

[A CA Guy]

The Constitution did not say we could not make new laws as our civilization progressed.
The Constitution was our strong foundation and was never meant to keep us in the 1700s.
The founding fathers never anticipated technology or population growth as an example.

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

We should get rid of all the stupid, pointless gun control laws.

Who cares if someone owns a sawed off shotgun, suppressed weapon, or an automatic firearm? I don't.

[Eagle Eye]

Having parents who drank excessively, I would never call that a victimless crime

Drinking excessively isn't a crime at all.

Not all crimes are sins and not all sins should be crimes.

[MrLeRoy]

The Constitution did not say we could not make new laws as our civilization progressed.

That's why it wisely provided for an amendment process. Only liberals think the Constitution can be changed without a duly ratified amendment. Are you a liberal?