Getting rid of the gangs

When I heard that Stephen Harper was going to “deal with” the gang violence in Vancouver, I assumed it would be a typical conservative solution. Unfortunately, he didn’t surprise me.

Punishment, and yet more punishment, to “deter” the bad guys. Tougher drug laws. An automatic first degree murder charge for any gang-related killing.

There is one major problem with this: it doesn’t work. It doesn’t work because the killers never intend to get caught. They never think “I could get life in prison instead of 25 years if I get caught for this, so I won’t do it.” Ever. Harsher laws have been tried before, over and over, and they have failed every time.

So what is the solution? First, leave the murder law as it is. Most gang killings are already pre-meditated (first-degree) murders, so nothing needs to change there.

Second, legalize drugs. That’s right: marijuana, cocaine, heroin, all of them. Make them legal, sell them through legitimate retailers similar to the Liquor Control Board, and tax them heftily.

This would solve several problems. It would remove the main purpose of most of the gangs, causing many to disband. It would eliminate, or at least minimize, disease and death caused by badly cut drugs and dirty needles. It would add tax money our economy could certainly use. And studies in the few countries that have done this have shown that it does not cause an increase in drug addiction.

Finally, some of that additional tax money can be used to fund programs to give kids things to do with their time other than joining gangs – sports, after-school programs, etc.

It may not be as obvious a solution, or as fulfilling in the short term as throwing people in prison, but if we want to prevent crime and not just punish it after it is too late, this is the way to go.