Peter Christ of LEAP on the Drug War

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Peter Christ of LEAP on the Drug War
http://www.leap.cc/

Captain - Tonawanda NY Police Department (ret.), LEAP Board Member
Cazenovia, NY
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Speakers&bio=182

"Legalization simply means the elimination of ‘Schedule 1’ - All other discussion is about regulation."

Peter Christ retired as a police captain after a 20-year career enforcing drug laws. From the beginning, Peter believed "the drug war can never be won and it is doing more harm than good." After retiring in 1989, Peter began speaking out publicly against that War. In 1993, he became one of the first members of “ReconsiDer,” one of the original forums on drug policy, involving speakers from many diverse backgrounds. Peter quickly developed into the group's leading spokesperson, appearing at hundreds of venues.

Peter then originated the idea of creating LEAP, a drug policy reform group of current and former members of law enforcement modeled on “Vietnam Veterans Against the War.” In 2002, after four years of Peter?s preparation, LEAP finally emerged as a viable international nonprofit educational organization. Christ is one of the most experienced of the LEAP speakers, having performed before hundreds of civic, professional, educational, and religious organizations, plus conducting television and radio interviews in dozens of markets. Peter speaks of the Drug War's impact on: police/community relations; the safety of law enforcement officers and suspects; police corruption and misconduct; and the financial and human costs associated with current drug policies. These issues include the effect of drug prohibition on the judiciary, sentencing issues, prison populations and minority communities, as well as the usefulness of drug education programs in reducing drug abuse. Peter?s discussions absorb his audiences — blending the troubling facts of the failed U.S. policy of a war on drugs with the Will Rogers? type humor and homilies of a down-home philosopher and the practical approach of a skilled police administrator. In addition to working for drug policy reform, Peter is a member of the Police Conference of New York, the Western New York Association of Retired Police Officers, and the Police Captains and Lieutenants Association of Erie County.

"Wonderful. We don't often get a program of this caliber..." Floyd Gurnsey II, former mayor of Schoharie, NY; president of the Schoharie Rotary Club. “Mr. Christ was awesome. We’ve never had such a good speaker and to have a retired police officer discussing drug policy was a true bonus!” Frank Nardulli, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON LEAP:

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is a non-profit organization - www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com - formed by cops, judges and others in the criminal justice system who believe the War on Drugs has been an expensive failure that has only made our nation's tragic drug problem worse. After devoting their careers to being front-line warriors in the War on Drugs, our members have come to believe that the only way to reduce drug abuse and the many harms associated with our current approach to the problem is by legalizing (and regulating) illicit drugs. Our prime purpose as an organization is to give presentations and foster discussion about responsible alternatives to the War on Drugs. More information about LEAP can be found at http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Content&pid=4 However, for a real understanding of what LEAP is all about, view the 13 minute video at http://leap.cc/audiovideo/LEAPpromo.htm

Scheduled Time:

http://americanfreedomradio.com/
Date: Monday, April 20, 2009
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Central

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