Monday, January 04, 2010

Prevent Homocide: "Buy a Gun"

This is the advice from a Buffalo, gun-unfriendly New York, gang member, as reported in the Buffalo News. I am not one to take advice from gang members. This time he is right, as confirmed by virtually all studies.

It seems to me that the Buffalo News article is really about how most gun violence is somehow related to illicit drugs, either by rival gangs or druggies trying to get money for the next fix. One thing is for certain: we have not solved the problems cause by illegal drugs by prohibiting the manufacture, importation or sale of them. We have increased the street price and the profit by limiting the supply. The result of that strategy is, of course, more crime. Druggies need to steal more money to get the next fix. Drug gangs make more money by supplying the illegal substances.

The whole war on drugs thing needs a new look and new approach. Our legislators in Congress and in the several states lack any understanding of the laws of economics.

Get this straight. Drugs are bad. But the current prohibition strategy is seriously flawed.

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