Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2012
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Adam Stork

DRUG LEGALIZATION MAY HELP

How do gangs afford their guns? After all, a "clean" automatic 
handgun (one that hasn't been involved in a crime) can cost 
thousands. The answer should be obvious: from proceeds accrued from 
the drug trade and prostitution. Legalize or decriminalize drugs and 
prostitution and the gangs' major sources of profits will disappear.

History provides a lesson, in that prohibition of alcohol created Al 
Capone and his ilk. The ban on alcohol gave them the profits to buy 
Tommy guns and created the conditions that led to the Valentine's Day 
Massacre. Alcohol has long since been legalized, and the result is we 
no longer see bootleggers shooting each other (and innocent 
bystanders). There is every reason to suppose that the 
decriminalization or legalization of drugs and prostitution would 
have the same effect.

Unless we change these laws, we must accept these tragic shootings as 
a consequence of our policies.

Adam Stork,

Toronto.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom