When over 25% of inmates in the United States are non-violent drug “offenders”, it irks me to see violent criminals walk the streets freely.
Many people don’t understand that the war on drugs increases violence and victimization, such as with alcohol during the 1930s prohibition. However, even these people must admit that it irks them to see their tax-dollars wasted on enforcing victimless crimes while violence and victimization run rampant in this country.
How many women have to be raped; how many homes have to robbed; how many citizens have to be assaulted, before all these resources are dedicated to protecting citizens from victimization?!
I just reread an article from September 2005 citing a push in Connecticut (USA) to look for a new way, with drug laws. Living in Connecticut myself, I can assure everyone that this did not come to pass.
Connecticut still wastes its resources fighting a war on non-violent drug offenders, while loads of violence and victimization still plague the state. For example, in the capital, Hartford, where drug enforcement is highest, over 1,500 violent crimes and over 10,000 property crimes take place annually. Instead of protecting citizens from these victimizations, the city decides to wage a war on non-violent drug offenders.
The article I read points out the underlying racism of the drug war:
In Connecticut, black and Latino males make up less than 6% of the population, but they account for almost 70% of the state prison population of roughly 20,000. And they account for the vast majority of the roughly 14,000 drug offenders doing time in Connecticut.
We need to end this racism and reduce crime by repealing drug prohibition.
Tuesday, September 12th 2006 at 6:44 pm
I’ll second that motion! Drug prohibition only prohibits peace – It makes absolutely no sense and should therefore be abolished!