Pubdate: Tue, 11 Dec 2012
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2012 Kirk Muse
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Kirk Muse

PROHIBITION EVOLVES INTO MORE CRIME

As of Tuesday, December 11, 2012 As a former Vancouver resident, I
read with interest the Dec. 9 Columbian story "Crime increases as drug
use does." 100 years ago, people could legally purchase all the
heroin, cocaine or morphine they wanted for pennies per dose; 100
years ago the term drug-related crime didn't exist.

For the most part, drug consumption does not cause crime. Drug
prohibition policies cause most of our violent and property crime.

People are substantially less safe today because of our so-called war
on drugs.

I suggest readers view a short YouTube video featuring Stephen
Downing, former deputy chief of police of the Los Angeles Police
Department. During the 1960s more than 90 percent of all murders were
solved. Now just over 60 percent of all murders are solved. Why?
Because of our war on drugs. There are great financial incentives for
police to make drug busts and confiscate the drug dealers' money and
property but no financial incentive to solve rapes or murders.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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