Guns, Gangs, and Prohibition Law. Don't be lazy!

[Pavulon]

Here a few points that are worth consideration:

The leading cause of death for African Americans between the age of 16 - 32 is Murder.
1 in 9 African Americans in the same age range are behind bars.

This is unacceptable to me as an American. It is not fair, and not necessary.

In my opinion this is directly linked to drug law, poverty, and cultural and environmental factors.

Gang Murders (or any DRUG CRIME driven act) combined with Suicides and Homicide directly linked to MENTAL HEALTH issues are root cause for the vast number of gun deaths. (edited for clarity, phrased wrong in OP)

Guns and their presence do NOT cause people to kill each other. I was stuck in what was left of Yugoslavia in close quarters with lots of heavily armed men. Handguns, select fire rifles (not replica toys), and the general tools infantry uses to kill people were on hand. No women (technically), little booze. Lots of free time. No one got shot. Plenty of fights, even broken bones, no murder.

Gun Control is a crutch used by people who refuse to address root cause. People are unwilling, scared, or lazy when it comes to identifying these things and dealing with them.

We owe our citizens better. We need mental health resources available to everyone. Any one who has ever dealt with treatment facilities knows the cost, even with insurance.

We need to stop bullshitting around and regulate the market for drugs. That prohibition drives crime as a root cause.

Traditional common sense gun control is not a problem for me. However we have reached a point where we can no longer ignore the problem or pass silly laws and expect that to fix the murder rate of children in poor neighborhoods.

This is not happening in mass in Darien, CT. We need to face it, and act on it.

[Irreverend IX]

1. There's an easy solution...

Legalize drugs.

[Pavulon]

2. I agree.

and have heard the same from city police who deal with the problems directly.

Not federal agencies who exist to fight a never ending war, but people who actually have to live with the problems drugs cause.

Again common sense regulations of this would be needed, but it is the solution.

[iquiring mind]

3. Thank you

One of the best posts I've read on here.

Turf wars between rival gangs 'protecting their drug market' creates unlivable conditions for too many people. This 'War on Drugs' has caused more harm than good.

[spin]

4. The "War on Drugs" is a total failure...

Do some research on the drug wars in Mexico and you'll realize that we soon will face the same problems.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-mexico28-2008jun28,0,7214898.story

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's raging drug war claimed the lives of six more police officers, ambushed on patrol in the marijuana-rich state of Sinaloa, authorities said Friday.

The attack followed the slaying Thursday of a senior police commander, part of a long string of killings apparently aimed at eroding public confidence in the government's ability to challenge drug gangs.

******

More than 4,400 people have been killed in drug violence in Mexico, among them hundreds of police officers, since President Felipe Calderon launched an all-out offensive against drug cartels after taking office in December 2006.

We could begin by legalizing marijuana. Reduce the profit motive, reduce the crime.

[Tejas]

5. clarification needed

"Gangs and Suicides and Homicide directly linked to MENTAL HEALTH issues are root cause for the vast number of gun deaths."


Nice overall post but I don't quite buy the part of blaming (virtually all) gun crime on mental health issues.

[Pavulon]

6. No bad grammar after 2 beers..

I meant gang murders (or any drug related) crimes as one category and then the suicides and homicides caused by mental health issues.

I definitely view those as different and will correct it.

[virginia mountainman]

7. K&R ! NT