Trump Suggests Drug Dealers Should Get Death Penalty
- 6 years ago
President Trump on Thursday seemed to suggest that drug dealers should get the death penalty.
President Trump on Thursday seemed to float the idea of executing drug dealers.
"We need strength with respect to the pushers and to the drug dealers," Trump said at the White House Opioid Summit. "The drug dealers, the drug pushers are — they're really doing damage. They're really doing damage."
"Some countries have a very, very tough penalty — the ultimate penalty. And, by the way, they have much less of a drug problem than we do. So we're going to have to be very strong on penalties," Trump added.
He made these remarks just days after Axios reported, citing sources, that the president has expressed similar views privately.
"In Singapore, the death penalty is mandatory for drug trafficking offenses. And President Trump loves it," Axios noted. "He's been telling friends for months that the country's policy to execute drug traffickers is the reason its drug consumption rates are so low."
Critics say it's unclear if such measures lead to reduced drug use.
Furthermore, Mary Bono, who co-founded Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies, is quoted by Politico as saying, "If he is really talking about the worst of the worst, he needs to be clear. It gets into a gray area, and it can be a little uncomfortable when you go there."
President Trump on Thursday seemed to float the idea of executing drug dealers.
"We need strength with respect to the pushers and to the drug dealers," Trump said at the White House Opioid Summit. "The drug dealers, the drug pushers are — they're really doing damage. They're really doing damage."
"Some countries have a very, very tough penalty — the ultimate penalty. And, by the way, they have much less of a drug problem than we do. So we're going to have to be very strong on penalties," Trump added.
He made these remarks just days after Axios reported, citing sources, that the president has expressed similar views privately.
"In Singapore, the death penalty is mandatory for drug trafficking offenses. And President Trump loves it," Axios noted. "He's been telling friends for months that the country's policy to execute drug traffickers is the reason its drug consumption rates are so low."
Critics say it's unclear if such measures lead to reduced drug use.
Furthermore, Mary Bono, who co-founded Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies, is quoted by Politico as saying, "If he is really talking about the worst of the worst, he needs to be clear. It gets into a gray area, and it can be a little uncomfortable when you go there."