Drug Abuse and Murder

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Drug Abuse and Murder
by Dave Gibson, Columnist

February 25, 2004

Dave Gibson The recent abduction and murder of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia has the nation shaking its collective head in disgust and asking why this happened. Why was the human predator who murdered her roaming the streets? It is a question which Carlie's parents will forever ask.

37-year-old Joseph P. Smith has been a drain on society for much of his life. He has been arrested 13 times in Florida alone. He was once arrested only eight days after his release from prison on a 17-month stay for drug charges. Upon his conviction for that offense, he was simply placed on probation.

Smith was convicted of aggravated battery back in 1993 and once again, given only probation. He also received probation for heroin possession in 1999. In fact, he has been given probation for violating the terms of his probation! Our broken system has failed us yet again and an innocent little girl has lost her life because of it. I would like to see all of the public defenders who have argued for this man's freedom and the judges who apparently listened, face Carlie's parents and explain why this man was given the chance to kill their precious daughter!

Smith as with most violent thugs, is a drug addict. He apparently has been for many years, addicted to heroin and cocaine. I am weary of listening to the Libertarian crowd tell us that drug abuse is none of our business. I believe that Smith's drug abuse over the years has left his brain (or at least part of it) in a non-functioning state. Does that mean that he is not responsible for this unspeakable act? Or perhaps, he should now be hospitalized instead of being punished? Of course not! He should be drawn and quartered! However, we can no longer ignore the issue of drug abuse and the role it plays in the commission of violent crimes.

Many hold the belief that drug abuse should be left up to the individual, that the state should stay out of it. However, with such drugs as crack cocaine, heroin, and crystal methamphetamine, they have such a powerful effect on the user that the addict poses a terrible threat to the community. The hold that these drugs have on the user is unimaginable and the addict needing a fix, will do anything for another hit. Most drug addicts commit crimes to help support their habits and once that cycle begins, it usually takes a bullet to end it. Unfortunately, before that life of crime has been ended, many innocent people will be hurt.

Until the courts begin to deal with drug addiction seriously, there will be more innocent lives taken. I believe that people caught in the possession of a serious drug, should be given once chance to clean up their act. If nabbed again, they should spend the rest of their lives picking up garbage on the side of the road in an orange jumpsuit. We must extract these human tumors from our midst, doing so will help make our streets safe once again. ***

Photo of Dave Gibson courtesy of staff files