CRIME WILL GET A LOT WORSE UNDER TORY LEGISLATION

Re: 'Gangs want a piece of our drug market' (Daily News, July 14)

My response to this article is, obviously. And things are going to get
a whole lot worse when the Tories force through their "tough on crime"
legislation this fall.

The stakes will be higher to be in the business, so prices will soar
and make it far more profitable for these gangs that are now here.
Prepare for violence and turf wars while gangs try to increase their
share of the market place, with many innocent victims losing their
lives along the way-- and we will have the Conservative party to thank
for this.

Perhaps if Stephen Harper would listen to the mountains of evidence
showing that his strategy will not work, this could be avoided. We
need a regulated drug market.

It is imperative that marijuana be legalized as a first step to
cripple gang profit and separate "ma and pa" from violent criminals,
and focus law enforcement resources on dealing with more pressing
issues that affect the safety of our families.

Andrew Brown

Nanaimo