MURDER BUSINESS

Ft. Pierce, Fla. -- The Dec. 1 editorial, "The business of murder,"
comparing the Chicago murder rate today with that of Al Capone's time, was
very much run of the mill. It is a very plain vanilla piece, indicating
that the writer has no understanding of the underlying causes of the
murders, even though he mentions it. He seems unable to connect the dots.

If Capone's success depended upon a black market and today's gangs also
depend upon a black market, why does not the writer mention the simple
economic fact that once the black market was removed in 1932, the crime
rate plummeted?

Is the writer unable to see that simple and obvious nexus to today's
wealthy gangs?

I'm not impressed with your writer's powers of reasoning. He is either
unable to recognize the connection, or is able but lacking in the courage
required to speak out against it.