Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 23:40:10 -0800 (PST)
From: American Anti-Prohibition League <[aal 01] at [teleport.com]>
Subject: MORE DRUG WAR/MILITARY MADNESS!

                     AMERICAN ANTI-PROHIBITION LEAGUE
              3125 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Ore., 97214
    voice: 503-235-4524, fax: 503-234-1330, e-mail: [AAL 01] at [teleport.com]
                     Floyd Ferris Landrath - Director
                              March 2, 1996

      A league media watcher brought this to my attention.  The 
    following is transcribed from the Statesman Journal newspaper, 
    published daily in Salem, Oregon, U.S.A. (541-399-6739, Metro 
    Editor Richard Aguirre).  I encourage anti-prohibition forces to 
    call Mr. Aguirre and voice your opposition to these expensive and 
    environmentally destructive machines that will do little if any 
    good in stopping the flow of illegal drugs.  
      Ask him this: If we have to spend more than half a million 
    dollars to protect officers on drug raids, how much of the 
    public's money will be left for things like education, health 
    care, economic development?  Drug treatment?  How long will it be 
    before someone does shoot a missile or rocket at one of these 
    LAVs?  Then what?  Do we nuke the forests to make sure no one is 
    growing pot?  Conduct warrant-less door to door searches to find 
    all the meth labs? -- Thank you, Floyd.

    March 1, 1996, the "Local" section, page 1.

               VEHICLES BUILT FOR ALL TERRAIN IN DRUG RAIDS

    + Oregon police agencies get use of the armored craft from the 
    Oregon National Guard.

    By Janet Davies, The Statesman Journal

      Oregon police agencies Thursday got nearly 50 tons of armor to 
    use in their war against drugs.
      The Oregon National Guard rolled out two light armored vehicles, 
    or LAVs, to provide protection for officers on drug raids where 
    they might encounter armed resistance.
      "This is very serious business, very dangerous for law 
    enforcement officials," said Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, Oregon's 
    adjutant general, during an unveiling ceremony at McNary Field to 
    demonstrate the vehicle's capabilities.
      The all-weather, all-terrain vehicles, valued at $630,000 each, 
    are designed to withstand attacks from almost any munitions short  
    of missiles or rockets.
      They can roll through rugged, rural areas to get to marijuana 
    fields or up to the front door of a drug house or methamphetamine 
    laboratory.  Officers - up to eight passengers with the crew of 
    two - can exit down a ramp at the rear.
      Inside, they can stand up and open hatches on top.
      With the hatches closed, they have such home comforts as heating 
    and air conditioning.
      The LAVs, manufactured by General Motors, operate on eight tires 
    rather than tracks, they are street legal, Rees said.  Based in 
    Salem they can hum along at up to 62 mph on the freeway.
      They feature night driving vision devices and a land navigation 
    system of a Global Position System receiver and self-calibration 
    Digital Compass System.
      State Police Lt. Bernie Giusto said the3e vehicles also will 
    help in cases of heavily armed, barricaded suspects and hostage  
    situations.  His agency will monitor their use and has set 
    stringent criteria, he said.
      "It's a real nice partnership for us with the Guard," Giusto 
    said.

      The vehicles aren't the first under the guard's national 
    counter-drug program.

      The Oregon Guard has provided helicopters and pilots to such 
    agencies as the Polk Count Sheriff's Office.

      Deputies take advantage of infrared cameras to help detect 
    objects in heavily forested areas during their annual marijuana 
    eradication expeditions.
                                   ...
    SAFETY

    Specifications
    Maximum speed 62.1 mph
    Range(avg. 45 mph) 746 miles
    Fuel(capacity 145 gallons
    Fuel economy 5.14 mpg
    Weight(empty) 25,150 pounds
    Length 22.1 feet
    Width(with tires) 8.5 feet
    Height 8.84 feet
    Engine Manufacturer Detroit Diesel
    Max. performance 275 hp
    Seating 2 crew, 8 passengers
    Value $630,000

          Large color photo reads: "National Guard Tech. Sgt. Andrew 
    J. Furnia is surrounded by dials and switches in the driver's 
    compartment of the Light Armored Vehicle demonstrated Thursday."
          Small color photo below it reads: "The LAV completes a 
    demonstration on the runway at McNary Field.
    Jay Reiter/Statesman Journal
                                   ***


                     *** DRUG WAR, or DRUG PEACE? ***