Gun Policy Research

[Millhouse]

(06-23-2017, 10:37 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: I would agree with you were it not for the deep decline in violent crime in the 1990s. I have zero doubt that rethinking our strategy regarding drugs would impact violent crime rates, but I don't think the impact would be a drastic one.

Edit to add: I think criminal justice reform combined with rethinking our drug policy would help violent crime rates and should be attempted, but also need to look at other solutions. These two things would also impact some socioeconomic issues in our communities.

You ever read the book "All God's Children: The Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence"? I took at a History of crime in the U.S. class at OSU, and that was one of the books we had to read. It was very interesting to say the least, as it follows 3 generations culminating with Willie Bosket, who is one of the most notorious New York criminals in their cjs. 

Its been years since I read it, but Willie had terrible circumstances growing up, which led to him committing crimes and murder by the age of 15. I think he was released by time he was 19 or 20, but got arrested for something else (maybe assault), then attacked guards, and spiraled out of control in the NY cjs and their laws, which as he got older, he never had a chance to be released. 

Anyways not just based on that, but just common sense as well, I think a lot of the violence in this country can be curbed down with a solid upbringing of children at home. And bettering the environment in the area they are raised in. I know it sounds simple, but I do believe that can be a silver bullet to a lot of things. Of course I also know it is a lot harder to try to do as a society such as ours sad to say.