Would you support prosecution of a drug dealer if someone died from a past drug sale?

Question

Would you support prosecution if someone died from a past drug sale?

Many drug users also sell small amounts to their friends:

1) If it could be proven that someone died from one of these sales would you support prosecution?

2) What if the person he sold to then killed someone (car accident or similar..)

3) What if one of the people the dealer introduced to drugs later died from an overdose, would you consider the dealer responsible?

4) Based on #3, in your view how long between introduction and death would absolve him of the responsibility of his actions?

The statute of limitations does not apply to murder.

Answer 1

i think drugs should be legal... as long as you don't deal them, especially to kids. yes i would prosecute them if given the option.

Answer 2

I think drugs should be legal because it is a personal choice, but prosecuted even while  the drug addict commits a crime while stoned. No excuses.

My answers to your questions:

1) No, the dealer is not responsible if someone decides to buy drugs. It is a risk buying drugs. No one told the addict to buy it in the first place and assumes all responsibilities of the drug.

2) Same as above. If the worthless druggie killed someone, than he or she must die

3)Nope, the dealer can introduce someone to drugs, but that person must decide to accept it or deny it. Anyway, if someone dies from an overdose- who cares they deserved it

4)One millisecond. You can introduce rat poison to someone, it does not mean someone have to take it.

Answer 3

murder requires the prosecutor to prove a specific intent to kill.  What you describe is, at best, manslaughter.  That is why many states have passed special statutes allowing for a murder-type sentence in the first scenario.  As to the second two, no state would currently allow such a prosecution.  In general, a prosecutor must prove a direct causal relationship between the criminal act and the consequence.  What you describe is too remote and speculative and so no state has passed such a law and it is doubtful that the courts would find such a law constitutional if it did not require a direct causal relationship;

Answer 4

Follow up question: if someone dies while drunk driving or from alcohol poisoning, should the liquor store owner be prosecuted?

Answer 5

The best defense is a proactive one, where you intervene before someone gets hurts. For that reason, I support prosecution of all drug offenses.

Answer 6

where are all the dead dealers from this "war on drugs"?

I don't see them

shoot the dealers on sight...I'll support that

Answer 7

is this based solely on the ingestion of the narcotic?

If not, then I'd argue that every sale and purchase of illicit narcotics results in death.  Mexico and the Andean Region in this hemisphere are the beneficiaries of massive chaos and destruction due to our demand for and prohibition on drugs.

Since nothing happens in a vacuum, every sale increases demand and ultimately results in more funds being funneled to organizations like FARC.

Answer 8

Just recently in Dallas County TX, there was a 'cheese' dealer who was prosecuted and convicted in court of manslaughter for selling dope to a kid who died from it.

So, yes. I support the prosecution of ANY drug dealers, period.

Answer 9

Since you asked 'would I support procsecution"  here goes:

1) If it could be proven that someone died from one of these sales would you support prosecution?

Sure, but the problem would be proving that was the only source of drugs. Was there intent or just reckless disregard of other safety?

2) What if the person he sold to then killed someone (car accident or similar..)

Yes, Again the hard thing would be proving it, while in concept the reckless disregard for others lives and safety is no different that handing an automatic weapon to a 5th grader unless many laws are rewritten: how do you know that the drugs supplied were the one responsible as compared to other drugs available. Lets say 5 people supplied drugs at a party were things went wrong: would all 5 be held equally responsible?, what if one supplied pot and the others meth, coke and PCP?

3) What if one of the people the dealer introduced to drugs later died from an overdose, would you consider the dealer responsible?

Personally I believe they are responsible but this would be extremely hard to prove.

4) Based on #3, in your view how long between introduction and death would absolve him of the responsibility of his actions?

While some people say it’s just the users fault I believe the fault also rests with the sellers. This does not in any way limit the user/addict for the incredibly stupid behavior.

The only way to remove the scourge of illegal drug use is to target it from every direction, force the users to disclose the dealers with longer sentences if they don’t roll over. The same would go for the dealers: if they don’t roll over they get longer sentences.

Many of the items you listed might be handled better in civil court if a clear cut criminal case can’t be prosecuted.