Out-dated laws
I thought I was free after 9 years o putting on that uniform, I was rudely awakened. Discharged from the army honorably, great educational future ahead of me; and a free law-abiding citizen; I thought I would feel more welcomed into civilian life but, when I was arrested for a “DUII”, I feel betrayed and angry about the freedoms I felt I fought for. Simply put; if I fought for our country, and the U.S. is thankful for the service I have rendered, why am I being confined literally on my way home from serving in the armed forces?
January 11: Fresh out of Afghanistan and days of debriefs, clearing operations, gear cleaning, and medical examining; I received my DD-214 (your whole military career in a couple of sheets of paper) ad was headed home. Diving from Kansas to Oregon was the most exciting rip of my life, I as going home, starting school, and starting a new chapter. Driving though such great states like Missouri, and Idaho. After stopping in Salt Lake City Utah for a day to visit one of my close friends who lost appendages during the war, I was finally in Oregon, home stretch to my paradise.
Red and blue lights come on behind me in Burns Oregon, a cop was pulling me over for speeding. With great confidence and the marijuana laws being very lenient, giving the day and age of the laws, I felt It was necessary to tell the officer I had marijuana in my truck. I thought: “hey, he will like you being honest, and will understand…..” I was sadly wrong. When I explained to him I had marijuana, he proceeded to put me on the ground and put me in handcuffs, at the same time with his gun drawn. On my injured knees in handcuffs, I asked him to put the gun away, and explained I was former military. Me being in that category, I thought he would be less prejudice, this made it worse. After more officers came onto the scene they searched my whole car, and had less than 4 grams of marijuana, my anxiety medicine (non-narcotic), they were convinced I was the...