Province wasting money trying to end gun violence

By Lethbridge Herald on March 18, 2023.

Editor:

On Wednesday March 6, the Alberta government announced that it would invest $4.4 million to combat gangs and gun violence in the province.

It is well known that almost all gun violence involving gangs is the result of the drug trade. The drug trade works the same as any legitimate business: supply and demand. For the most part governments are fighting the supply side at an enormous cost and nothing to show for.

Here are some figures: the U.S. government about 50 years ago announced that they would crack down on drug trafficking. They called it the war on drugs. It’s estimated that on average the U.S. is spending approximately $51 billion per year and have spend approximately $1 trillion so far since they started the war on drugs, so it’s obvious that they are not winning the war. 

Canada is spending approximately $500 million annually fighting the movement of illicit drugs and the use of it. So what do we have to show for it? Is the drug trade being eliminated because of this enormous amount of money spent fighting this war on drugs? 

 I think it’s quite obvious that we are losing this war. The Alberta government is adding another $4.4 million to the fight. It will employ some more police officers, they will make a few arrests, get some headlines and the war goes on.

So what if we had spent all those trillions of dollars trying to eliminate the demand side of this issue? After all, if there is no demand there is no supply, problem solved, no more trafficking in drugs, no more gun violence!

Now I know that is a dream, but still, think of the $500 million Canada is spending every year fighting gangs moving drugs and killing people and use that money instead to help the people depending on these drugs to become drug-free and lead productive lives.

 Here is another sobering statistic: Substance abuse is costing Canada approximately $40 billion per year and that includes the use of alcohol and tobacco.

Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis’ announcement to add another $4.4 million to the war on drugs in my opinion is a total waste of money, but hey, it looks like they are doing something about the problem. Then again various governments and celebrities are now openly promoting gambling and we all know that gambling goes hand-in-hand with drugs alcohol and gang violence.

And the beat goes on.

Barney Feenstra

Lethbridge