Two people shot dead near my house!!
Discussion
I was just closing our bedroom curtains last night and noticed the South Yorkshire Police helicopter in a steady hover about a mile away. I wondered what was going on, and got up this morning to find out that two young people had been found shot dead in a local field. The Police have arrested a 19 y.o. for their murders. Sounds like a drug related crime - but it's a bit close to home!
Eric Mc said:
The Inland Revenue can ALREADY tax illegal earnings AND the Proceeds of Crime Act allows the authorities to sieze cash and other assets obtained through criminal activities.
So, adequate law already exists.
If the government opened fully licensed premises selling drugs, they could tax people to the hilt and earn vastly greater sums.
But that's another discussion altogether
>> Edited by Ads-Northants on Wednesday 14th December 09:37
Eric Mc said:
The Inland Revenue can ALREADY tax illegal earnings AND the Proceeds of Crime Act allows the authorities to sieze cash and other assets obtained through criminal activities.
So, adequate law already exists.
Not really - I think he's talking about legalising it and having registered businesses to dole it out to the deadbeats - reduced price hence taking the druglords out of the equation and increased tax revenue. With a direct line straight to the local crematory, we could even legally clean up the gene pool as well !
The report on the BBC website suggests they drove over from Sheffield, so not exactly local, but even so I didn't think Sheffield was a hot bed of gun crime. (Perhaps i'm over-reacting?) 
As far as legalising drugs is concerned, we almost have that with the current heroin treatment programmes, which are run in many GP surgeries, using sustitute medication. It is very successful, and is really helping people to stop thieving, and get help. the trouble is, there are no sustitute medications for cocaine, crack etc. So selling it as a licenced and regulated product, from official drug centres, wheree there are teams of drug workers available to help sort out addicts problems, and try to get them off, seems to me like the only way forward. Saturate the market and put the dealers out of business, cut crime enormously, and help people. Trouble is, hard drugs then become as socially acceptable as alcohol and tobacco, and everyone would be doing it. It'd be like working for the BBC!
As far as legalising drugs is concerned, we almost have that with the current heroin treatment programmes, which are run in many GP surgeries, using sustitute medication. It is very successful, and is really helping people to stop thieving, and get help. the trouble is, there are no sustitute medications for cocaine, crack etc. So selling it as a licenced and regulated product, from official drug centres, wheree there are teams of drug workers available to help sort out addicts problems, and try to get them off, seems to me like the only way forward. Saturate the market and put the dealers out of business, cut crime enormously, and help people. Trouble is, hard drugs then become as socially acceptable as alcohol and tobacco, and everyone would be doing it. It'd be like working for the BBC!
It's not really another discussion, because this violence is caused by fights over the massive profits available from selling illegal drugs.
Legalisation and licensing would not only create more tax revenue, it would lower crime.
Moreover it would represent a reduction in the power of the state over the individual.
Legalisation and licensing would not only create more tax revenue, it would lower crime.
Moreover it would represent a reduction in the power of the state over the individual.
nubbin said:
That's scarily close - I was only in Dinno on Saturday night for my works christmas do.
Where did you go? The Royal Elephant?
Venus
How many plates did you smash?
None unfortunately but i was seriously tempted to use a colleague's head as a target!
FourWheelDrift said:
So, adequate law already exists.
Well - they could consider arming Revenue officials!
Imagine that - a VAT officer with a Glock
Just like "The Untouchables"!
(these are the real ones not Costner/Connery/Garcia)
Love that! "I've got a shotgun!"
"I've got a crowbar!"
"I've got a pistol AND an axe! What have you got , Merv?"
"Err, a walking stick....."
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