THE WAR ON DRUGS SPURS GANG VIOLENCE

In response to the letter "We must declare war on street gangs," I
think the underlying point was missed since it never stated that the
war on drugs is causing the gang violence.

The illegal drug market is instigating the same violence that alcohol
prohibition did in Chicago.

The violence will not end until the profits from an illegal drug
market are eradicated, and the way to do that is to regulate,
medicalize and tax those currently illegal drugs.

Not only would that take away the profits that fuel gangs and lead to
gang violence, but it would also make some of the most dangerous
substances safer.

Think about it, who monitors the quality and purity of illegal drugs?
Nobody does, but if the government regulated the market, purity levels
could be assured, thus a safer substance.

Remember alcohol prohibition led to all sorts of dangerous concoctions
that were without any type of oversight and increased gang violence.

Some might not want to admit that our war on drugs has failed, but in
fact it has done more harm than the good it was intended to do.

Continuing these flawed policies will only lead to more violence and
bloodshed.

End the war on drugs and gang violence will go down.

DAN LINN

Executive Director

Illinois NORML

Chicago