GUARDIAN ANGELS HAVEN'T DROPPED DOWN FROM HEAVEN

Re: Guardian Angels talk to police about patrols, July 29

The recent media spotlight on the vigilante crime-fighting Guardian
Angels has raised some serious concerns for many of us in Vancouver.
While the American war on drugs seems to be excellent at jailing much
of the population, sociological evidence suggests that incarceration
may actually increase drug abuse.

In Vancouver, we have had very hard times with drug addiction.
Luckily, we have also become more informed about pro-active solutions
that have succeeded in other countries. The consensus seems to be that
the harm reduction approach is what we want; when addiction is treated
as a medical concern, not criminal, the result is less related crime,
fewer overdose deaths and more rehabilitation. For us to invite
strong-arm street patrols to hold down addicts for the police to
arrest or destroy their drug paraphernalia is a giant step in the
wrong direction.

Jylah Ritmeester

Vancouver