Our role as the gun community

[yokel]

An effective response might entail displaying the same mixture of guile, ruthlessness and brutality as any self-respecting Godfather. Using a delicate mixture of intimidation and retribution, they "persuade" those who engage in a variety of violent criminal activities to include murder, extortion, kidnapping, assault, and robbery.

 

[SFvet]

End the War on Drugs.

Seriously. That would not only reduce all forms of drug- and gang-related crime, but our justice system could actually focus on the remaining violent criminals. What a concept.

Not only that but eliminating the agencies that serve less of a purpose. The US Marshals Service could have multiple divisions and take over for the FBI and other F.L.E.A.s. Freeing up resources for fighting crime needs to happen - providing resources and people dedicated to pursuing actual threats.

We need to concentrate on pursuing violent crimes and protecting the public - not making more of a mess.

 

[rainbowbob]

So locking up a greater portion of your population doesn't result in a lower crime rate.

I would argue that is not a valid conclusion from the data you present. There may be many other reasons why Arizona's violent crime rate is higher than Utaha's

 

[camslam]

Tyris wrote:

Exorbitant taxes would encourage smuggling. Kinda like what prohibition does now. Whats with this love of taxes anyhow? Its the Democrat solution to everything: Raise Taxes!!!

Do you realize how much tax revenue could be raised from taxing drugs in just Oregon? Talk about a windfall.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

I can understand wanting to maintain some middle ground on the issue but what is this supposed to accomplish? The people doing the shooting are the people that make their money selling drugs, not the users. We'd lower the prision population sure, but you need to take the profitability out of drugs by taking them out of the black market.

The primary goal would be to reduce prison population to make room for violent offenders. I'm not sure if legalization across the board is the best plan. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but it does need to be much less of an LEO priority.

 

[3KillerBs]

There is no "gun violence", there is only criminal behavior.

To control criminal behavior there are a number of measures that, taken together, would reduce crime to the minimum that fallen human nature permits.

#1. Permit, even encourage, all sane, adult, non-felons to arm themselves -- either concealed carry or open carry -- with their choice of gun, sword, knife, pepper spray, taser, etc.

#2. Honor, rather than prosecute, those who shoot criminals who invade their homes and/or threaten their lives or the lives of those around them.

#3. Stop "catch and release policing". Ensure that criminals actually serve their sentences.

#4. Determine immigration status of all persons arrested and turn those who are illegally in the country over to the appropriate authorities for swift deportation.

#5. Encourage a cultural reformation towards the values that build up rather than tear down civilization. Things such as personal responsibility, industry, thrift, family, patriotism, honor, faithfulness, virtue, persistence, personal integrity, ... -- the pursuit of the highest and the best rather than the lowest common denominator.

The last is the most necessary and the most difficult since it cannot come from without but must take hold in the hearts and minds of each individual. But taking the High Road as a society and culture can be encouraged.