18 May 06
Originally posted by CoconutYou might be able to control "these small things" but you won't be able to control the people that inclined to do them.
Drugs, Prostitution, Gambling. All the things that don't hurt others, if made legal, would cut street crime and gang violence. Everything would be safer. Drug raids are a waste of time and money. Innocent people and officers get hurt because of the fight against these small things.
18 May 06
Originally posted by CoconutPerhaps if we legalize crime then it could not be labeled as crime any more. Just think, the crime rate could drop to zero percent over night!!!
Drugs, Prostitution, Gambling. All the things that don't hurt others, if made legal, would cut street crime and gang violence. Everything would be safer. Drug raids are a waste of time and money. Innocent people and officers get hurt because of the fight against these small things.
18 May 06
Originally posted by sasquatch672i meant hint instead of hunt, I think you@ll find.
I don't think he's "in the know", so to speak.
18 May 06
1 edit
Originally posted by Coconutyes, but many of these things are the root cause for other crimes, which do hurt people. Why don't we decriminalise drink-driving too? Drink driving doesn't hurt anyone, it's merely the running people over that does.
Drugs, Prostitution, Gambling. All the things that don't hurt others, if made legal, would cut street crime and gang violence. Everything would be safer. Drug raids are a waste of time and money. Innocent people and officers get hurt because of the fight against these small things.
[edit; oh and both gambling and prostitution are legal in many parts of the world. Drugs is really the one that needs most control of course.]
18 May 06
1 edit
Originally posted by scottishinnzmany of these things are the root cause for other crimes
yes, but many of these things are the root cause for other crimes, which do hurt people. Why don't we decriminalise drink-driving too? Drink driving doesn't hurt anyone, it's merely the running people over that does.
What does that mean?
Should we suppress freedom of speech because it might incite assault? For example, should it be illegal for me to insult someone?
Drunk driving is not illegal; drunk driving on PUBLIC PROPERTY is illegal. At least, that's how it should be. If you want to get drunk and drive your 4x4 on your own land, you should be able to.
18 May 06
Originally posted by AThousandYoungAgin like many things in law it is about the degree of separation between one act and another. Sure, you say the wrong thing to the wrong person and you may get beaten up, but normally when you speak you don't get beaten up. With, for example, drugs, most people that get onto "hard" drugs like heroin previously did softer drugs. People which cannot afford to finance their habit often turn to a life of crime to pay for their habit. Like gambling, this lifestyle can lead to people losing their life savings, home etc. Where you have drugs, of course, you also have drug dealers, and the associated potential for both increased crime and violence. Now you could lvel most of these critisisms at alcohol and gambling, I am aware, but the difference is, I believe, frequency. Some people who drink become alcoholics, but most don't. Some people who gamble get addicted, but most don't. Likewise, I'm sure some people who do drugs don't get addicted, but I'd imagine that the rates of addiction are higher than for, say, alcohol. Also (like alcohol, I'm more than aware) long term damage to peoples health can result as a consequence of taking drugs. Indeed, overeating can also cause long term damage, but we don't outlaw food, since not eating is worse than actually eating.
[b]many of these things are the root cause for other crimes
What does that mean?
Should we suppress freedom of speech because it might incite assault? For example, should it be illegal for me to insult someone?
Drunk driving is not illegal; drunk driving on PUBLIC PROPERTY is illegal. At least, that's how it should be. If you want to get drunk and drive your 4x4 on your own land, you should be able to.[/b]
So, to sum up it's a grey grey area, but I think current laws do well to protect most people, most of the time.