The drug war has long been a policy aimed at reducing drug consumption and addiction, but it has had far-reaching implications, particularly regarding gun violence. The drug war has created a black market for illegal substances, which has resulted in increased criminal activity and gang violence as these organizations compete for control of the drug trade (Castillo and Kronick 879). The use of firearms in this violence has also increased, increasing gun-related deaths. Furthermore, the drug war has fostered a climate of fear and mistrust among law enforcement and communities, making it more difficult to investigate and solve gun-related crimes. To educate people about the issues produced by the drug war on gun violence, we must raise awareness of the concerns and strive toward complete solutions that address the underlying causes of the problem.
The United States policy restricts the use and sale of narcotics. Prohibition is a policy that criminalizes drug use and possession (Minhee and Calandrillo 547). The primary goals of this policy are to reduce drug abuse and addiction, reduce the number of deaths caused by illegal drugs, limit violence associated with the illicit drug black market, prevent large shipments of illegal drugs from entering the country through border control, and reduce the number of people incarcerated.
Although many Americans favour drug prohibition on these grounds, several issues were not addressed when the policy was first adopted. Most significantly, the prohibition policy has increased drug availability, increased drug-related violence, and diminished public safety. Prohibition has developed a black market for illegal drugs (Beckett and Brydolf-Horwitz 515). When drugs are prohibited, people who want to use them but do not want to commit a crime have no legal way of obtaining them; as a result, a black market forms where individuals can buy and sell illegal narcotics at their discretion. These persons may not be licensed pharmacists or drug dealers, and they are subject to fewer legal requirements than those who lawfully make or sell the same items.
One of the most serious problems with the drug war is creating a black market for illegal drugs. Criminal activity has intensified as drug cartels and gangs compete to control the drug trade. These organizations frequently resort to violence, including firearms, to secure their turf and destroy rivals. As a result, the number of gun-related deaths has grown (Roberts 474). The illegal drug industry in the United States is believed to be worth more than $100 billion, with cocaine and marijuana accounting for a sizable portion of this total (Guns, Drugs, and Crime). As a result of the violence and gun use linked with the drug trade, many people have developed a fear culture (Roberts 474).
One of the causes of rising gang violence and gun use is the large gap in sentencing for selling drugs vs. sanctions for possessing guns. In some places, selling one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine or five kilograms (11 pounds) of marijuana can result in a sentence of decades in jail (Roberts 474). Possession of a gun, on the other hand, can occasionally result in simply a fine. As a result, many believe they have no choice but to employ firearms to defend their land.
Another issue with the drug war is that it fosters a culture of fear and mistrust among law enforcement and communities. As a result, tensions and, in some cases, violence has risen between police officers and civilians. Because of this lack of confidence, law enforcement may find it more difficult to investigate and solve gun-related crimes (Owusu-Bempah & Luscombe). Raising awareness about the difficulties of the drug war inside gun violence is the first step in educating people about the issues. This can be accomplished through public awareness campaigns, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives. We must also seek to modify policies and legislation exacerbating the situation, such as lowering mandatory minimum penalties for non-violent drug offences and establishing more community-based police tactics.
It is also estimated that the number of guns in the United States has increased by 50% since the beginning of the drug war, resulting in an epidemic of gun violence. There may be a relationship between drug-related and gun violence (Owusu-Bempah & Luscombe). Recent research has indicated that some chemicals used in illegal drug markets can affect people’s decisions to purchase firearms, raising their odds of committing gun-related crimes, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). According to one study, marijuana merchants were slightly more likely to be implicated in a firearm homicide than other sellers.” In contrast, another discovered “Cocaine sellers’ possession of illicit weapons was linked to more violent results (Owusu-Bempah & Luscombe).
Drug conflicts have also played a role in the fact that the United States has the greatest rate of mass shootings among developed nations. This problem was brought to the public forefront again this month following the terrible shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The statistics on gun violence in the United States are staggering: there were nearly 40,000 gun-related deaths in 2016, not including suicides; two-thirds of people shot were black or Hispanic men; and there were over 300 million guns in circulation as of 2015, more than enough to arm every single American citizen (Owusu-Bempah & Luscombe).
Supporters of the drug war will argue that it has effectively reduced drug usage, particularly among young people (Ballvé 217). Unfortunately, there are some flaws in this reasoning. To begin, the studies used to support this assertion were inaccurate, including a 2012 study of young people in Massachusetts that was considered “useless” by Boston University’s Dr. Michael Siegel, who discovered that the majority of the youngsters polled were not even using drugs (The Atlantic). Second, not simply those supporting the drug war exaggerated its impact; those opposed to the strategy may have also done so (Ballvé 219). A 2002 Columbia University research indicated that roughly $100 billion is spent yearly in the United States on the drug war, which might include spending on programs to reduce substance usage and addiction and money for law enforcement (Ballvé 218).
With this in mind, we must educate people about the problems generated by the drug war in the context of gun violence. Public awareness campaigns can accomplish this by emphasizing the numerous negative implications of a “war on drugs,” such as increased violence, distrust between law enforcement and communities, and the development of a black drug market (Ballvé 214). Moreover, comprehensive policies that address the core causes of this problem are required. This involves lowering mandatory minimum penalties for non-violent drug offenses like marijuana possession and employing more community-based enforcement techniques, including community engagement and anti-gang activities.
The drug war has long been a policy to combat drug usage and addiction. It has, however, had far-reaching implications, particularly in terms of gun violence. For example, the drug war has aided the development of a black market for illegal narcotics, resulting in increased criminal activity and gang violence. Gun-related killings have escalated as various organizations compete to control the drug trade. Drug and gang violence can breed distrust between law enforcement and communities. Because of this lack of confidence, law enforcement may find it more difficult to investigate and solve gun-related crimes.
The solution to this problem is to educate people about the issues generated by the drug war in the context of gun violence. This can be accomplished through public education campaigns, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives (Virani and Haines-Saah 164). Moreover, comprehensive policies that address the core causes of this problem are required. They include lowering mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offences and employing more community-based policing techniques that include outreach and anti-gang operations.
It can also be reduced by holding gun manufacturers accountable for the negative consequences of their products. They can be required to pay for the effects of their products if they use companies that manufacture and distribute guns (Virani and Haines-Saah 163). These businesses are frequently more concerned with making money than being socially responsible. This is why they prioritize business over people. It is costly to demonstrate that they are not responsible, but it is possible. This will assist in minimizing violence while keeping the gun industry afloat.
It would also cost the policymakers more than they are willing to invest. For example, if we could eliminate the prison population by granting drug users freedom from punishment, they would have no reason to commit a crime. Many would abandon their criminal lifestyle and never return (Virani and Haines-Saah 161). Furthermore, firms may be barred from entering into contracts with prisons that house convicted offenders for drug offences. This would significantly reduce criminal activity, and the benefits would far outweigh any negative consequences of reducing prison populations.
The government can also help to prevent future crimes by keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Then we would not have to worry about them obtaining a gun and using it to commit a crime (Roberts 474). Many past victims of gun violence have come out after being shot, claiming that they did not commit their crime because they were afraid that their firearm would be used against them if they tried to leave or resist their attacker. That is why this measure has been implemented so widely into laws—so there is no chance that an individual will lose their life when they try to defend themselves with a firearm (Roberts 474). This is why places with tight gun control laws have lower crime rates. It keeps guns out of the hands of criminals, yet residents can still protect themselves with them. This is why the government needs to hold responsible gun manufacturers—so that we may keep our firearms and still protect ourselves with a high likelihood of avoiding getting shot.
Reduced prison populations will benefit all Americans, particularly those afflicted by gun violence. The solution to this problem is to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug charges, reduce punishments for offenders, and expand community outreach programs to include anti-gang measures (Roberts 474). Moreover, initiatives that diminish the demand for illegal narcotics are required. This can be accomplished by enacting laws prohibiting the possession and use of illicit drugs and enforcing regulations that help keep people from engaging in criminal activities. These policies will reduce gun violence and other violent crimes while ending racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
Implementing effective rules in our criminal justice system is critical to reducing gun violence. First, more community-based police techniques must be implemented. These strategies include expanding gang prevention programs, counselling criminals upon release from prison, and rebuilding relationships between law enforcement and the community through anti-gang outreach efforts. Second, initiatives must be implemented to lower the demand for illegal substances (Roberts 474). This can be accomplished by enacting laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal substances and enforcing laws that place criminals behind in jail or rehabilitation programs. Reduced demand for illegal narcotics will also lower gun violence. These policies will allow us to lower our jail population while keeping serious criminals behind bars. Furthermore, they will reduce gun violence by increasing community safety, lowering crime rates, and improving the quality of life for all Americans.
Finally, the answer to tackling the drug war’s problems with gun violence is to focus on prevention and intervention. This includes making addiction treatment and mental health services available and investing in education and job training programs to keep people out of the criminal justice system. We can make communities safer and reduce gun violence by addressing the fundamental causes of the problem.
References
Ballvé, Teo. “Narco‐frontiers: A spatial framework for drug‐fuelled accumulation.” Journal of Agrarian Change 19.2 (2019): 211-224.
Beckett, Katherine, and Marco Brydolf-Horwitz. “A kinder, gentler drug war? Race, drugs, and punishment in 21st century America.” Punishment & Society 22.4 (2020): 509-533.
Castillo, Juan Camilo, and Dorothy Kronick. “The logic of violence in drug war.” American Political Science Review 114.3 (2020): 874-887.
Herzberg, David. “White Market Drugs.” White Market Drugs. University of Chicago Press, 2020.
Minhee, Christine, and Steve Calandrillo. “The Cure for America’s Opioid Crisis: End the War on Drugs.” Harv. JL & Pub. Pol’y 42 (2019): 547.
Owusu-Bempah, Akwasi, and Alex Luscombe. “Race, cannabis and the Canadian war on drugs: An examination of cannabis arrest data by race in five cities.” International Journal of Drug Policy 91 (2021): 102937.
Roberts, Samuel K. “The Impact of the US Drug War on People of Color.” The Oxford Handbook of Global Drug History (2022): 474.
Virani, Hakique N., and Rebecca J. Haines-Saah. “Drug decriminalization: A matter of justice and equity, not just health.” American journal of preventive medicine 58.1 (2020): 161-164.
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