Pubdate: Tue, 16 Apr 2002
Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 Pulitzer Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Author: Scott Meyer

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
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MAP posted-by: Beth