Pubdate: Tue, 24 Aug 2004
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: George Kosinski
Referenced:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n1197.a07.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

HOW TO PUT HELLS ANGELS OUT OF BUSINESS

Re: Police chief targets Hells Angels, Aug. 21

I have to sympathize with Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham. Life
must be hard when the rest of the world doesn't hate the Hells Angels
as much as you do. According to The Sun, Chief Graham opined that the
Hells Angels have been romanticized, but they are an organized crime
group that often resorts to violence to intimidate people.

Perhaps that's true. However, one could just as well say the Vancouver
police department has been romanticized, but is a group that often
resorts to violence to intimidate people. Does that mean all police
officers are "rats?"

If Chief Graham were genuinely interested in reducing the criminal
activity of Hells Angels, as opposed to trying to strike fear into the
hearts of the public, he would be pressuring the federal government to
legalize and regulate all drugs, thereby eliminating the black market
where the Hells Angels allegedly conduct their business activities. If
Ottawa refuses, perhaps getting rid of a government that insists on
maintaining a dangerous and unpredictable black market would be more
productive than trying to prevent businessmen, regardless of what
group they belong to, from taking advantage of that market.

George Kosinski

Gibsons
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin