General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: SE Cupp doesn't know what "rapid-fire" or Military grade weapons" means [View all]metalbot
(1,058 posts)Though it isn't one that would likely be popular here: the war on drugs.
By aggressively pursuing drug law violators, we are locking up more of the violent people who would otherwise not get arrested until they are caught doing something more overtly violent. If you can bust someone who robs liquor stores by catching them with a rock of crack cocaine, you can send them to prison for something easy to prove (you had that rock in your pocket) as opposed to catching them doing something harder to prove (that was you in the mask that robbed the store).
That being said, there are plenty of non-violent people as well who are caught in the net of the "war on drugs", and as you pursue the war on drugs you also create an underworld that drives violence.
(also, very nicely written response to the what has changed question)