Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jun 2004
Source: Peace River Record-Gazette (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004 Peace River Record-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.prrecordgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1232
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n765/a07.html
Author: Alan Randell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

'THE ROAD TO HELL'

Re 'The Road to Hell': How the biker gangs are conquering Canada, May 18.

So long as newspapers can convince us that the world is headed for hell in 
a hand basket their sales will remain healthy so I suppose we cannot expect 
them to be overly aggressive in suggesting ways of addressing these problems.

For example, we should not expect the media to include in any "objective" 
drug/ prostitution story any hint that the problems brought about by these 
so-called crimes could be largely eliminated by legalizing drugs and 
prostitution. And no, this not in any way akin to legalizing murder because 
drug-taking and prostitution, when made legal, do not directly harm anyone 
besides the participants, and even then, harm to the participants is 
greatly reduced when the activity is legal and regulated.

But don't expect your local newspapers to reveal this fact.

Alan Randell, Knutsford Place, Victoria, BC
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jackl