ARGGH! SNIPERS!!

[Timosity]

I agree with the legalisation or decriminalisation of drugs, it would in turn save many lives, stop people from being criminals, less crime, less people in gaols for all the wrong reasons.

Of course there would still be addicts, but prescriptions for drugs would be necessary. There are pleanty of prescription drugs people are on these days that are far worse than some of the street drugs anyway, and the elderly are generally drug addicts and it's socially acceptable.

I also think Doctors should give less prescriptions for drugs and try natural remedies first and maybe drugs at a last resort. Some of the drugs people are on these days are given out like lollies, and the doctors don't even really know how to control them with the patients, they just go off studies in general and not always take into consideration their personal, physical & Psychological states.

It comes down to the major drug companies that are just like any other business, trying to make as many sales as possible, it is totally corrupt and doctors get more benefits and patients for prescribing these drugs.

Most of these hardcore drugs like Heroin are actually quite safe if pure, and the person knows how to use it properly. It's impurities that cause problems, a main one is they have no idea of the percentage in the hit, therefore never really know what dose they are taking.

It's just hard to get a drug to become legal once it's illegal. Alcohol is an example of a drug that can be used sensibly, and it's also an example of how drugs in our society can be major problems whether they are legal or not.

It's just lack of research that goes on and on in our society, and the sudden banning of drugs without any research. If it was all worked out sensibly in the beginning there wouldn't be as many problems, and then people could choose what to get wasted on instead of having to use alcohol just so they feel like they're not breaking any laws.

Driving is a big factor to consider cause obviously you wouldn't want people driving around off their heads. They do have tests for other drugs just like an alcohol breathaliser. They have trials going on here at the moment testing truck drivers for speed, marijuana and other drugs.

Also what I think would be an even bigger problem is people driving when they are withdrawing from drugs, it would probably be worse than when they were on the drugs. And they wouldn't be able to test for this if the particular drug wasn't in their system.

There are a lot of arguments for and against this issue, but to me it makes sense to atleast try some of these things and see where it heads.

Zero Tolerance is just turning a blind eye to a serious problem, and getting rid of the wrong people and will never solve the problem. people backing this sort of ignorance is one of the other serious problems in our society. It doesn't work, so hey, why not try something else.

[TheYak]

That seems a very rational viewpoint.  I agree with most of the thoughts promoting drug legalization but also agree with most of the counterpoints.  I guess the only way to know would be to try it.  Maybe some legal double-standards might alleviate some of the problems.  There are a few different tolerances that could be tested to determine the results:
1) Don't legalize but promote government aid for drug users that doesn't just help people quit but gives them information on drug usage.  People are going to experiment.  If they do, why not make it as safe as possible. Provide people with pamphlets detailing physiological specifics about each drug - how to tell if it's pure (or at least make an educated guess), how to use it properly with the least risk, how much you should use for your metabolism/weight/height.  More information shouldn't be a bad thing.

2) Legalize it for sale but not for use.  This way the drug quality could be controlled, information could be given out, money goes to the government instead of criminals (oxymoron of sorts?  ). The police would still arrest users, perhaps instituting a first time=you get a fine, second time puts you in the incarceration system.

3) Legalize for sale/use but treat it as alcohol.  They could be consumed in licensed establishments meant for the purpose, or in the privacy of your own home.  Being caught under the influence while driving, working, whatever would result in punishment similar to alcohol incidents.

Just some random thoughts.  Back to gun control, I don't really know what to think about this one.  You outlaw them, criminals have guns and others don't.  You make a law forcing everybody over 21 to own (or even carry) a gun and it could go either way - less crime, or a new crime wave.  The difficulty with experimentation with firearms is that the results are far more likely to be fatal in the event of a poorly planned idea.  The self-defense argument might work a little better in other areas but in mine, I don't know anybody who owns a gun, except one friend-of-a-friend who happens to be of a criminal mindset.

[shbaz]

Some drugs are addictive enough that "experimenting" with legalization could be pretty harmful in itself.

[SSH]

Some drugs are addictive enough that "experimenting" with legalization could be pretty harmful in itself.

The difference from guns, of course, is that the gun can be fatal to multiple OTHER people than the person who decides to use a gun. Drugs are only potentially fatal to the person who decides to use them. Also, there is plenty of scope for them to be cured fo their addiction, while being cured of being shot has a lower success rate.

[Haddas]

I've never had to worry about a sniper in my life.

1. I live outside a small village in Finland.
2. Everyone there is always drunk.
3. HAPPY, drunk
4. The most dangerous thing here is me... and my machete...

[bspeers-o-rama]

Back to gun control, I don't really know what to think about this one.  You outlaw them, criminals have guns and others don't.  You make a law forcing everybody over 21 to own (or even carry) a gun and it could go either way - less crime, or a new crime wave.  The difficulty with experimentation with firearms is that the results are far more likely to be fatal in the event of a poorly planned idea.  The self-defense argument might work a little better in other areas but in mine, I don't know anybody who owns a gun, except one friend-of-a-friend who happens to be of a criminal mindset.

Yeah, such random results.  If only there were countries similar to the US in culture with stronger gun control measures so we could test the predictable results.  Damn it!  Where are we to find another english-speaking country where such rules exist.

I guess it's the eternal conundrum.

(insert face with a thing)

[shbaz]

I've never had to worry about a sniper in my life.

1. I live outside a small village in Finland.
2. Everyone there is always drunk.
3. HAPPY, drunk
4. The most dangerous thing here is me... and my machete...

Not too long ago, we didn't think any of these things could happen to us.

[Haddas]

So you're saying that NOBODY is safe?

[Migs]

I agree, GTA can corrupt your mind.  After playing GTA for 24 hours straight, I had to run to the grocery store.  Some jerk cut me off, so I rammed his car until it exploded.  He managed to escape, so I chased him down and beat him to a bloody pulp.  Then some kids crossing the street were gawking at me so I pulled out my rocket launcher and blew them onto the roof of a nearby Seventh-Day Adventist church.  After that, the cops were all over me, so I stole another car and luckily drove through a plate-changing shop and got a new paintjob, all the while listening to The Chatterbox.

[Matt Brown]

I've never had to worry about a sniper in my life.

1. I live outside a small village in Finland.
2. Everyone there is always drunk.
3. HAPPY, drunk
4. The most dangerous thing here is me... and my machete...

I live in a town with under 4000 people. Its home of a tiny, liberal arts college, (denison), and everybody here is often intoxicated. here we go...snipers.

its so random...why my town? thats whats scarey

[Haddas]

Wow... under 4000 ppl. I could probably find about 50 if I run into the woods with my flashlight. We have a REALLY small village. P.S... The locals here mostly use shotgun to eliminate innocent ppl. So many trees around, you can't hit anything anyway. And these people see double most of the time too.