Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2008
Source: New Mexican, The (Santa Fe, NM)
Copyright: 2008 The Santa Fe New Mexican
Contact: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SendLetter/
Website: http://www.santafenewmexican.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/695
Author: Mike Jones

BURGLARIES AND DRUGS

A recent editorial posited that, to reduce
burglaries, it was necessary to focus on drug trafficking until
legalization impacted that issue. I was struck by the cogent
recognition that legalization of drugs would end much of the crime
associated with illegal dealing.

Assigning the resources needed for the burglary problem to drug
trafficking must assume that targeting dealers leads to no supply, so
users stop breaking into homes to get the money to buy drugs. Recent
history demonstrates that our country has been unable to eliminate
illegal drugs, so how is the Santa Fe Police Department going to
succeed where the U.S. government has not?

Unless narcs arrest burglars, the problem won't be improved by beefing
up the drug unit. Assign resources to burglaries. Call on lawmakers to
dramatically reduce crime by legalizing, regulating, taxing and
distributing drugs.

Learn more at Law Enforcement Against Prohibition at www.leap.cc/

Mike Jones

Ranchos de Taos