Killing Ourselves – Why are we fighting this War on Drugs?

by Austin Petersen

Report-calls-war-on-drugs-a-failureOn June 17, 1971, President Richard Nixon announced that the United States would be fighting a new type of war — a War on Drugs.

This war wouldn’t be waged against a foreign enemy thousands of miles away. It would be fought in the streets of urban America, in our backyards, and inside of our homes. The enemy would be the American people.

Over forty years later, the War on Drugs continues to rage on, making it America’s longest war by far. The financial costs of this government offensive continue to grow. But what’s even more disconcerting than the billions of dollars that have been put toward fighting Nixon’s public enemy number one is the tremendous human cost of the drug war.

Law Professor Alex Kreit explores the heartbreaking consequences of the War on Drugs in a new LearnLiberty video:


While police invest big bucks and thousands of man hours arresting people for nonviolent drug possession, violent criminals are walking free.

“We’re choosing to direct these law enforcement resources to crimes other than rapes and murders, only to end up arresting and incarcerating large numbers of nonviolent offenders,” Professor Kreit explains.

So what’s the solution?

Professor Kreit offers one path forward: “We can direct more resources to prosecute violent offenders, actual criminals who leave behind victims and survivors. We can ensure every single victim of assault or sexual violence a full and credible investigation of their claims.”

These victims and survivors deserve justice — and the good news is that you can help. Visit LearnLiberty’s action page and see how you can make a difference in just seven clicks — less than three minutes of your time.

Austin Petersen is a homegrown Missourian with a lifelong passion for liberty. He grew up on a horse farm in Peculiar, Missouri and went on to attend Missouri State University, graduating with a degree in the Fine Arts. After developing a career in media in both New York City and Washington, D.C., he returned to Kansas City, MO, the city he now calls home. In 2016, Petersen appeared on the national stage as a candidate for president of the United States. He took second place in the crowded Libertarian primary behind Governor Gary Johnson and ahead of cyber security maverick John McAfee. During his campaign, Petersen earned many high-profile conservative endorsements, including Mary Matalin, Erick Erickson and Leon Wolf of RedState.com. Petersen also brings decades of professional experience in a wide variety of fields, from content production and media to business and political activism. He is the owner and chief executive of Stonegait LLC, a consulting firm specializing in photo and video services. He was also the director of production at FreedomWorks and an associate producer for Judge Andrew Napolitano’s show “Freedom Watch” on the Fox Business Network. Additionally, Petersen has a national following as a commentator and professional pundit. He is the founder of The Libertarian Republic, a powerful online news source for the public that receives an average of 1 million unique visits monthly and whose podcast, The Freedom Report, receives an average of one million monthly downloads. He is also a frequent contributor on television, appearing on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, MSNBC and on dozens of local radio shows.

1 comment

Biladd Alrafidain January 16, 2024 at 12:23 pm

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