This is what you do.

[anonymous44]

New strategy brings crime rate down in Oakland

By Harry Harris, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- A 34 percent drop in murders. Significant decreases in other violent crimes. More drug-related arrests. By the numbers, this was a successful first year for the Police Department's Violence Reduction Plan, officials said.

And officials are optimistic the numbers will get even better once all four phases of the plan -- a coordinated effort that involves not only Oakland police but also other local, state and federal agencies -- are fully implemented.

"I'm very pleased, especially by the number of homicides that are down and the number of shootings that are down," said Oakland Police Chief Richard Word. "It really says a lot when you consider the restraints we're under with the settlement agreement demands and fewer officers working overtime.

"Just think what we would do if we had more cops," he added.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Wickerman]

1. link

and check your PM

[BigDaddyCaine]

2. A key component of the plan is to wipe out street-level drug dealing

A key component of the plan is to wipe out street-level drug dealing, which continues to be a catalyst for violent crime in poorer areas of the city, police said.


You got one reply so far and it was a moderator telling you to post a link. If you had said guns were the problem and not the drug war you would have had 10 posts by now. It seems to me the whole group down here seems to focus on the gun and not the problem.

While i cant agree with the cops arresting marijuana sales at a 119% increase, i can agree that drugs are the problem. Its black market, just like alcohol use to be with the mob. Of course youre gonna have people dying over an illegal way to make a living. Legalizing the weed would drop most of the illegal drug trade and more than likely drop the homocide rates in all or most states. You would still have coke and heroin and meth dealers killing rivals, but the main recreational drug wouldnt be causing shooting. The number would almost surely drop.

Good post. Sorry no one has picked up on it yet. Maybe someone will try to flame my post so the topic can be changed from the guns and put where it needs to be, on the drug war.

[enfield collector]

3. Amen, legalize pot then tax it and the the money to pay

for a national health service.

[BigDaddyCaine]

4. Ive been saying it for years

The drug war is the cause of most homocides in the US. And legalize it for recreational use isnt going to hurt anyone. When i was in high school it was easier to get weed than alcohol. I didnt need a 21 year old to buy my weed for me. All i had to do was go to school and buy some. Marijuana is less harmfull than the already legal alcohol. How do i know? Ive been an avid user of both. Drinking always brought me trouble...fights, wrecks, just plain stupidity. Weed never once caused me to drive like a dumbass, and certainly never made me start a fight.

edit to add: its a shame no one from either side of this 'guns are bad' fight has posted in this thread. I would be interested to know who all thinks better regulation of the drug war would effect the crime rates more than gun control. And vice versa.

[anonymous44]

5. Here's the link. Sorry about the length

http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86%257E10671%257E2484725,00.html?search=filter

[Jack_DeLeon]

6. Gee, getting drug dealers off the street lowers crimes...

so lets legalize it, I dont see any booze or tobacco dealers on street corners shooting up thier competition and whatnot.

[Buster43]

7. I work

on the border with Mexico and anybody and I mean anybody comes across with so much as a seed, they go to jail. Zero tolerance.