BEST WAY TO STOP GANGS IS TO LEGALIZE DRUGS

Regarding The Morning Call's Jan. 9 editorial, "Police need better
tools to deal with violent, drug-dealing gangs": When are we going to
face reality? Prohibition of alcohol provided financing to make
organized crime a huge, thriving business in the United States. Now,
prohibition of drugs is doing the same thing for the street gangs.

It's time to legalize all drugs; sell them in regulated stores along
with alcohol, and tax them at the same rate. Remove the profit motive
and the gangs can stop their highly successful sales campaign to
recruit new members and customers, especially in our schools and
playgrounds.

An additional bonus would be that the new tax revenue could be used to
lower school taxes and enable seniors to afford their homes. They
could also rest more easily knowing that their homes will not be
broken into and their possessions sold for dimes on the dollar to
support high-priced drug habits.

JOHN S. NOWAKOWSKI

Bethlehem