NOT A CRIMINAL ISSUE

The murder rate in Tucson is astonishing. Per capita, it is far higher than
many much larger cities.

Police Chief Richard Miranda attributes the disproportionately high murder
rate in Tucson to the "drug trade." By that, I assume he means the illegal
drug trade.

I have not heard of any murders over the alcohol trade, which causes far
more deaths and far more health care costs than does the illegal drug
trade, nor the cigarette trade, which also causes far more deaths and far
more health care costs than does the illegal drug trade, nor the caffeine
trade.

So, which leads to the senseless murders? The drug trade or the illegality
of the drug trade?

While you ponder that, ask how much we spend on police, courts, jails and
prisons to enforce the illegality of the illegal drug trade?

Then ask, could our police and courts better protect our society if law
enforcement resources were dedicated toward crimes against persons and
property?

Could our society be better served by treating the drug problem as a mental
health issue rather than a criminal issue?

Scott Meyer