Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Stiff Drug Offense Sentences Save Lives

Thanks to new Attorney General Jeff Sessions and a recent FBI report, former President Obama's mythology regarding alleged "non-violent" drug dealers has been debunked.

Stiff Drug Offense Sentences Save Lives

 

4 min to read


Thanks to new Attorney General Jeff Sessions and a recent FBI report, former President Obama's mythology regarding alleged "non-violent" drug dealers has been debunked.

In justifying his commuting the sentences of an unprecedented number of drug offenders, Obama characterized them as "non-violent." In furtherance of his quest to let these allegedly non-violent death peddlers go free, he directed former Attorney General Eric Holder to have his prosecutors bypass mandatory minimum sentences and pursue lesser, if any, prison time. Fortunately, this mythology is ending.

Ad Loading...

On May 10, Attorney General Sessions issued a highly publicized department memorandum that called for a reversal of Holder's soft-on-drug-offenders sentencing policy. In his memorandum to federal prosecutors, Sessions stated, "Our responsibility is to fulfill our role in a way that accords with the law, advances public safety, and promotes respect for our legal system. It is of the utmost importance to enforce the law fairly and consistently."

God bless AG Sessions for understanding that the costs associated with prison populations aren't remedied by letting the death peddlers roam free.

Sessions made two more statements in his memorandum. "First, it is a core principle that prosecutors should charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense." Unfortunately, Holder failed to grasp that the lethal conduct of those who peddle death falls into this category. To reinforce the importance of unwavering sentences for death peddlers, Sessions stated, "By definition, the most serious offenses are those that carry the most substantial guidelines sentence, including mandatory minimum sentences."

It's clear that Sessions understands that telegraphing a soft country-club-type prison sentence to a death peddler will only inspire them to continue. When the reward is too great, and the punishment too soft, the number of death peddlers will only increase.

It is disconcerting that Obama and Holder apparently concluded that death peddlers playing ping-pong calmly in a federal penitentiary were somehow non-violent. When addicts go nutter and take lives, the death peddlers are to blame; especially when they kill law enforcement officers.

Ad Loading...

A recent FBI report titled, "The Assailant Study–Mindsets and Behaviors," validated this. The Bureau reviewed 50 of the felonious fatal attacks committed against law enforcement in 2016, and analyzed the factors that contributed to the lethal behavior of the murderers. The findings illustrated how drug abuse factored into several of the assailants' violent behaviors directed against law enforcement officers. It is important to note that none of these assailants manufactured or grew their own drugs.

According to the FBI report, "60% (30/50) of the assailants had a history of drug use, with 32% confirmed to have been under the influence at the time of the incident. Forty-six percent of the assailants' toxicology was unknown at the time of the study." What this means, at a minimum, is that at least 16 cop killers were doped up when they committed their unforgivable sin.

My question to Obama and Holder is: How do you conclude that the death peddler that supplied cop killers with drugs is non-violent? The report goes on to state that assailants' "drug use led to a heightened sense of desperation to avoid arrest and incarceration."

The report also documented two significant conclusions based on the input of law enforcement professionals. First, it stated that, "Many law enforcement personnel are seeing an 'escalation toward violence' by those who abuse drugs." Death peddlers knowingly sell drugs with increased potency or laced with lethal synthetics. The one fingerprint missing from every weapon a drug user wields to kill a law enforcement officer is that of the death peddler.

This point is further established in the second conclusion that revealed, "Police officers stated that an assailant who has entered into a 'drug-induced psychosis' that causes desperation and paranoia is more willing to shoot an officer to stay out of jail. Multiple law enforcement officials believed that the assailant in their specific incident would not have used deadly force against the officer if the assailant was sober." That conclusion is indeed sobering, and one that Obama and Holder should have considered.

Ad Loading...

Death peddlers do not make an honest living, rather they instigate horrific death. And the death peddlers who provided drugs to cop killers should be charged with murder. Death peddlers are responsible for the drug-induced madmen who kill cops, and they should be prosecuted for their unconscionable violence.

Subscribe to our newsletter

More Patrol

graphic honoring fallen law enforcement officers featuring a uniformed officer holding a folded American flag, with bold text reading “2026 Roll Call of Heroes” and “363 Fallen Officers Honored,” alongside the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund logo.
PatrolMay 14, 2026

363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week

In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.

Read More →
Graphic honoring New York City Police Department officers as “Officer of the Month” for March 2026. The image features portraits of Chief Aaron Edwards and Sergeant Luis Navarro alongside department and recognition text.
PatrolMay 14, 2026

NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month

Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.

Read More →
Infographic summarizing results from a national survey on policing reputation. Ten key findings cover public trust, communication, demographics, media influence, local policing, AI concerns, and emergency response, using charts, icons, and statistics throughout.
PatrolMay 14, 2026

National Police Survey Reveals How Americans View Policing Today

A new national survey offers a comprehensive look at how Americans view policing. The study uncovers public sentiment toward local vs. federal police, communications, crisis response, the use of AI in policing, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Product image of a Streamlight TLR-7 X tactical flashlight on a dark background. The compact black weapon-mounted light is shown in close-up beneath the Streamlight logo, highlighting its lens, controls, and mounting hardware.
PatrolMay 14, 2026

Streamlight TLR-7 X Selected as Standard Issue Pistol Light by Canadian Federal Police

The Canadian Federal Police will be adding a new duty pistol system, which will include Streamlight’s TLR-7 X and a Glock 45 MOS 7 pistol with a red dot sight.

Read More →
poeple dressed in dark clothing holding candles during a candlelight vigil.
PatrolMay 8, 2026

Fallen Law Enforcement Officers from Across the Country to be Honored During 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13th in Washington, D.C.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) will honor 363 fallen officers who have died in the line of duty as their names are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13.

Read More →
Black small medical bag with supplies and a tourniquet at right on a wood table and a large headline at left What Should Be In Your IFAK?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamMay 1, 2026

What Should Be in Your IFAK?

What should every officer include in an IFAK? Sydney Vail, M.D., a veteran trauma surgeon and former SWAT surgeon, explains which components are needed and which are not, and stresses training.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
flashlight turn un and submerged in puddle with rain falling.
PatrolApril 30, 2026

Olight Releases 2 New Baton Variants & the ArkPro Ultra Onyx Black

Olight has added two new lights to the Baton Series, the Baton 4 and the Baton Ultra. One new Baton features up to 1,600 lumens on turbo, and the other 1,800.

Read More →
Black tactical helmet with bright explosion behind it to the left, Team Wendy logo top right, and headline Recon Tactical Bump Helmet
PatrolApril 30, 2026

Team Wendy Reveals New RECON Tactical Bump Helmet

Team Wendy’s new RECON Tactical bump helmet is configurable by color, retention, and accessories for rescue, tactical, and military mission needs. It features Zorbium foam pads, shell vents, and lattice cooling pads that balance impact absorption, airflow, and long-wear support.

Read More →
Black military style leather boot against a blue cobblestone background with a white Garmont Tactical logo.
PatrolApril 30, 2026

Garmont Tactical Introduces the T8 Specter LE Zip for LE Professionals

Garmont Tactical has a new 8-inch duty boot with a side zipper, the T8 Specter LE Zip. The boot is available now and features ankle support in a standard duty profile with polishable leather.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Streamlight searchlight and a scene light on a tripod set against a darkened street scene and Streamlight logo across the top.
PatrolApril 30, 2026

Streamlight Launches LiteBox 1Million & Portable Scene Light III

Streamlight has launched the Portable Scene Light III (PSL III), which delivers up to 10,000 lumens, and the LiteBox 1Million, a one-million-candela long-range search light.

Read More →