Bob Barr: “I knew that we were once again hearing those who believe that we can attack and cure the drug problem by fostering the…”

“I knew that we were once again hearing those who believe that we can attack and cure the drug problem by fostering the drug problem; that we can solve one problem by giving people the means to kill themselves with mind-altering drugs. The reason, I would tell my colleagues on the other side, why every time this bill comes up we present an amendment to prohibit the use of funds for needle giveaway programs, what they like to more benignly talk about as needle exchange programs, is because there is a serious problem with drugs in the District of Columbia, as there is in communities all across America. The reason that it is appropriate and fitting to address this issue in this bill is because these are Federal monies. Now, if citizens of some other country want to engage in the absurdity of saying we can solve a problem by giving people drugs or giving people the means to kill themselves with drugs and that that is, indeed, in some other cultures perceived as a great virtue, then so be it. We here in this Congress do not stand for that. The people of this country do not stand for that.”