TOO MUCH CRIME, NOT ENOUGH PUNISHMENT

In the wake of recent gangland slayings, no doubt there will be calls
from all sides to increase law enforcement, crack down on crime,
declare war on the gangs, etc. Some of that might even happen. But
there will be no appreciable decline in gang violence; in fact, I
suspect it will continue to get worse here in the Lower Mainland.

The only way to defang and disarm these violent criminal gangs is to
deprive them of their main source of revenue, drug sales. The only
way to do that is to decriminalize drugs, and tax the hell out of
them. Overnight, no more gangs, no more violence, no more guns. Why
can't we see that? Why do we have to "declare war" on violence? It
doesn't work, it hasn't worked in the United States, Canada or
anywhere, at any time. How many more people have to die before we
face the fact that decriminalization is the only path to solve this
very serious issue?

Matthew Breech

Vancouver