Make Americans safer by repealing victimless crime laws

www.lp.org/lpnews ^ | 7.25.03 | Bill Winter

[freepatriot32]

the crimes against persons and property the FBI tracks in its Uniform Crime Report -- ranging from murder to simple property crimes -- the annual clearance rate is an astonishingly low 19.6%.

what do private civilians need a gun for just call the police and they will protect you /sarcasm

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[dark_lord]

I fully expect the WOD types to be here any moment calling you a smelly long haired hippy doper radical anarchist DU'er.

[jmc813]

I'm sure the authoritarians will be along shortly telling us how these crimes affect "society", and how "selfish" the anarcho-ideologues are.

[Rodney King]

Yes, but Marijuana is a gateway drug.

[Hugin]

In every city in America there are outstanding warrents on thousands of convicted felons who have not showed up for sentencing. There are generally only a small handful of cops assigned to find and arrest these people. We could significantly reduce real crime if we put the resources we spend enforcing the laws described in this article into tracking down and arresting the career criminals who have already been convicted.

[supercat]

what do private civilians need a gun for just call the police and they will protect you /sarcasm

As crime rates go up, clearance rates go down. This in turn reduces disincentives for committing crimes, allowing crime rates to go up further.

Unless citizens are allowed to be armed. If citizens can arm themselves, then as crime rates go up, citizen armament rates will also go up. This in turn increases the risk of criminals hitting an armed victim, providing an increased disincentive to committing crimes. Thus crime rates can be kept in check.

[Phantom Lord]

Some people say there is no such thing as a "victimless crime". They are very wrong. Here is just one example.

In North Carolina it is AGAINST THE LAW (a crime!) to have in your possession a lottery ticket! Now tell me, whose the victim in this crime?

[supercat]

If someone breaks into your house, there's only a 12.7% chance that the burglar will face charges.

What exactly does that figure mean? Is that the ratio of burglaries to charges brought, or is that the estimated ratio of distinct burglars to charges brought, or what?

[supercat]

Some people say there is no such thing as a "victimless crime". They are very wrong.

The so-called "victimless crimes" make the "perpetrators" into victims of the government. So those people's statement is correct--just not in the way they intended.

[The_Pickle]

Happy to agree with everything in this article, whether that makes me a libertarian or not I am unsure but sense somehow trumps political affiliations in my book. I have for years worked with many "criminals" whose only "crime" was to engage in activity that harmed no one but themselves and that others found "morally offensive".

A guy who deals dope to kids is a dirtbag that deserves to be put away. A guy who smokes a little ging to unwind is no more a criminal than someone that stops at the local pub to have a few pints. As a matter of fact the guy having a few pints and getting behind the wheel of a car is a far greater danger to society then the guy sitting at home smokin dope and watching Pink Floyd's "The Wall".

So if its really about protecting society, as criminal justice is supposed to be, shouldn't we be more focused on those people that engage in activity that actually is a threat?

[Courier]

What are WOD types?

I don't know if I'm a WOD type or anti WOD type but I agree with this article.

[PaxMacian]

*Wod_list

[Long Cut]

WOW! This article is just chock full of...whattyacallit, GOOD SENSE.

Seems to me that the only people who find fault with it would be those who cannot mind their own business, and must meddle in others'.

[Mr. Mojo]

I have for years worked with many "criminals" whose only "crime" was to engage in activity that harmed no one but themselves and that others found "morally offensive".

There are unfortunately many on this board who would imprison - and perhaps execute - people who commit "morally offense" victimless crimes, if they had their druthers. These same people, had they been born in Saudi Arabia rather than the U.S., would undoubtedly be Jihadist fanatics.

[Courier]

The worst thing about many of these laws is that they could take absolutely model citizens and both taint them as criminals and sour them on legitimate law enforcement.

[Petruchio]

For some people, gambling can be a problem that leads to financial ruin and despair. But for most Americans, "gambling is simply a matter of fun, a voluntary and harmless pursuit that many find rewarding. In moderation, it is neither less wholesome nor less rational than other sources of entertainment," wrote Guy Calvert

Wanna bet?

*snicker*

[Balding_Eagle]

"Click It or Ticket"

When I saw that on the Interstate Highway signs, a chill ran down my spine.

The Germans must have felt similar things in the 30's.

[PaxMacian]

You forgot to mention that true citizenship status is removed by taking away voting rights for felony possession charges. This is truly the meaning of being disenfranchised.

[PaxMacian]

Did you notice that was one weekend they gave out 425,000 tickets at $100 means they took in $425,000,000. Not bad for standing around harassing and holding up people on their weekend.