archduke said:
I wonder if some juror will talk about the horrible tragedy resulting from a heroin overdose in the family, and then it will be Poor Deprived Family Member vs. Heartless Drug Pusher (or, translated: irrational, deprived family member vs. juror with the sense to see past this).
Just a thought. Probably unlikely, but who knows.
Not following on this...
Not to say that dealers are innocent, but the responsibility for drug use (and especially mis-use) is on the person taking the drugs.
A decent dealer will help you learn your limits if you ask them.
They'll answer your questions before handing you what you're asking for.
Sure... there are some bad dealers...
But ultimately it comes down to the users.
If it's your first time, you don't know ANYTHING about a drug, and you take it in whatever dose you're given, sometimes choosing to go all out because... hey, if I'm gonna do it, I better do it right!
Then you deserve what's coming to you.
Is this the fault of the dealer?
It depends...
If they know it's the person's first time, they don't inform them of the potential risks (especially OD risks...), and send them on their way after taking their money, then yes...
They're partially responsible.
However, how many clients come up to a dealer and say, "It's my first time!"
Any? Really?
Because if it's your first time, you're suspicious...
And if you're suspicious, chances are you're not getting the drugs you're trying to get.
So who's to blame for the kids not asking their dealers for some free information with their purchase?
Who's to blame for not having warning labels on illegal drugs?
It's not the dealer's fault.
It's not the buyer's fault.
It's the government's fault for promoting fear, making these kinds of questions more dangerous than the drugs themselves, and propagating ignorance.
It's really easy to place blame on anyone you want.
You've still got to ask, who's really at fault for taking the drugs though - the dealer or the person that agreed to take the drugs?
Unless someone dies from an overdose of GHB someone slipped into their drink, I don't think it's the fault of the supplier. (In this case, the bastard drugging their date.)
The guy at the gun shop isn't guilty of murder because they sold the gun. The gun manufacturer isn't guilty for making the gun.
The person pulling the trigger is guilty.
Why is the person selling a drug guilty of murder if the person they sold the drugs to decided to use/misuse them?
And... slightly more on topic...
If your MINOR child is doing drugs and you know about it... AND you don't approve of it...
WHY would you let them leave the house with their friends IMMEDIATELY after getting out of a 3 day rehab clinic?
You can't blame the boyfriend for your own stupidity.
And you're the one that pulled the trigger.
You're still guilty.
Saving your daughter's life?
Please.
If you cared about your daughter at all you would have grounded her when you found out she was doing drugs.
It doesn't say she snuck out with her friends...
It says she left with them - implying your consent.
It's all on you.
Sorry.