A Death in the Bronx

The New York Times has the story:

They were driving through the Bronx on Easter Sunday. Their two-year-old son, wearing his Sunday best, was strapped in his car seat. They heard a sound. Looked at the kid. He was leaking blood.

David Pacheco, Jr., died before he reached the hospital, killed by a random bullet fired by some hothead gang member.

He didn't have to die. Most of the people who are shot don't have to die. All it takes is a little common sense--and more political courage than the National Rifle Association allows American politicians.

First, you criminalize possession of all guns that cannot be used for hunting. Then you de-criminalize drugs.

What do you gain?

On the government side, you save billions of dollars that are being wasted on a "drug war" that can never be won. There's less money needed for jails. Less corruption.

On the criminal side, legalized drugs means there's nothing for gangs to do. Those suckers are going to have to get into hard-core crime--which is much easier to stop and punish--or work for a living. (You don't like illegal immigrants? Here's a work force that's home grown.) And, with legalization, the "cool" factor is stripped from the drug culture. There would be--warning: paradox ahead--less drug use.

Gang members who clean up. Kids who don't have a rap sheet record for smoking pot. Cops fighting real crime. Little kids growing up safe.

Sorry. I must have been on something.