Pubdate: Sun, 28 Dec 2014
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Page: 16

DRUG USERS SILENTLY AIDING GUN THUGS

Drawing a straight line between recreational drug use and the recent
spate of gang shootings in Ottawa is a little like revealing the truth
behind the real source of all those gifts under the Christmas tree:
Which is to say, the truth tends spoil the party even though we all
know where they really come from.

Truth is local drugs are managed from source to the marketplace by
sophisticated criminal networks responsible for much of the violence
that is now plaguing some Ottawa neighbourhoods.

That includes Friday's incident at the Tanger Mall and a recent spate
of other shootings that have left residents of some west end social
housing communities ducking in fear.

Those gangs lure recruits through the promise of easy money and
sustain a culture of violence to protect their interests.

They use the profits to buy guns to enforce their control of
communities, and they don't care who gets hurt or worse in the process.

Recreational drug users choose to ignore these simple facts because it
would ruin the buzz, or at least force them to face the true
consequences of their actions.

Nancy Worsfold, director of Crime Prevention Ottawa, was absolutely
right to pin some blame for recent shootings on the many recreational
drug users across the city who choose to avoid the truth about where
the money goes and who really profits.

"I'm deeply concerned that the violence that we've seen is related to
a lucrative drug market and the drug market is driven by two kinds of
users -- the recreational user and people who are addicted," said Worsfold.

Crime Prevention Ottawa is one player in a city-wide effort to reduce
gang activity, an effort that is severely compromised every time a
recreational drug user puts another dollar into the hands of some thug.

Even pot use isn't entirely victim free as its distribution is often
managed by gangs bent on protecting their piece of the illicit drug
market.

There isn't much ordinary citizens can do to reduce the supply of
drugs.

Criminal interests will always find a way to supply a ready
marketplace.

But we can do something about the demand for illicit
drugs.

That is, if those who are creating the demand are ready to face up to
the true consequences of their actions.

Those who won't are silent allies of the very gangs that are plaguing
this city.
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MAP posted-by: Matt