DRUGS: Answer this alarming call

This letter is in response to the front-page article of the Coeur d’Alene Press article on Aug. 4 by reporter Craig Northrup. I understand the article to be true based upon the decades and decades-long reputation of The Press for truthful reporting and the separate but equally important reputation of Mr. Northrup for his truthful reporting.

In his reporting, Mr. Northrup recounts two conversations he had with two separate drug dealers, one at the basketball court at McEuen Park and the second at the city beach. One of the drug dealers stated that he sold illegal drugs to our children among other clients.

If, as the article suggests that illegal drug sales are commonplace at these two sites, then drug sales are occurring while innocent children are present. Additionally, it is clear that these drug dealers are openly plying their trade, and as they do, they have an open and continuing contempt for law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

I believe that drug sales near and among our children is a clear and present danger to them. I also believe that an elemental function of government is to protect our children as they gather in public places such as playgrounds and beaches.

Selling illegal drugs to children is an act of complete moral depravity. Selling those drugs openly at these locations also represents a collapse of meaningful government and a failure of its elementary duty to protect our children.

Our city government should immediately report to the community about this situation and what if anything the city government intends to do about it and to issue a written guarantee to us that this depravity will not be repeated.

NORMAN GISSEL

Coeur d’Alene