Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most guns used in crime in Brazil are in the hands of criminals (usually traffic) and militia (which is just different criminals with ties to the police). They wouldn't exactly be purchasing those guns with their ids. A lot of it comes from the police and the army. Gun laws protect civilians against civilians. There are no school shootings here that I'm aware of for instance (exceptions are usually targeted events),…
"There are no school shootings here that I'm aware of " (Referring to brazil). Here is an entire list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Brazil
Brazil sets new record for homicides
111–120 of 193 posts
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
Murders in the US are extremely unevenly distributed. Most Americans live their entire lives without ever knowing anyone who was murdered. Many "bad neighborhoods" are not bad because of the prevalence of murder, but because of the prevalence of burglary, theft, etc.
Anecdotally, I wonder how true this is. I'm two degrees separated from two people who were murdered--one was a colleague of my father (killer never caught, suspected they knew each other, though), one a friend of my sister (also never caught, though less likely a friend/acquaintance due to her age). Surely my experience isn't that unique?? If so, wow.
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#113Eesh. If all of this is accurate, it is problematic indeed. I wonder how many of these homicides would cease to occur if drugs were made legal in Brazil (I wonder about this worldwide). I've never understood why it's difficult for people to understand the awful incentive structures that making drugs illegal puts into motion.
I just want to make sure we're talking about the same thing. 'Making drugs legal' is frequently miss-understood. Treating addiction as a public health problem by decriminalising addicts and personal posession while keeping the trade in drugs firmly illegal, as in Portugal and now Norway, looks like the way to go. The recent changes to the law in Norway are widely reported as 'decriminalising drugs'. That is highly mi…
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, about 80% are drug related.
What is the conflict that's causing such a high rate? I associate Col/Mex deaths with cartels warring over trafficking routes but what is happening in Brazil? Is it just street trade?
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#115Earlier quoted context omitted.
On the flip side, it probably helps if good role models are willing to take their chances in establishing their presence in an at risk community. Change has to start somewhere.
Sure, that's called gentrification.
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#116Another crazy stat: 132 politicians in Mexico murdered since September.
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#117Eesh. If all of this is accurate, it is problematic indeed. I wonder how many of these homicides would cease to occur if drugs were made legal in Brazil (I wonder about this worldwide). I've never understood why it's difficult for people to understand the awful incentive structures that making drugs illegal puts into motion.
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#118I'm a little surprised that other places with military conflicts (eg. middle east) or paramilitary conflicts (eg. Mexico) aren't higher? Maybe those are counted differently?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intention...
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
Brazil, like most of South (and now perhaps north too?) America suffers from macho populism. A lot of character politicians with tough messages, empty promises and sadly the population just falls for it every time. These stats, along with others, is the result of years of populism, corruption and neglect.
Let’s ignore the fact that the last president was a woman and that this is the direct result of her party disastrous administration. Blame machismo. It always works.
Re: Brazil sets new record for homicides
#120Eesh. If all of this is accurate, it is problematic indeed. I wonder how many of these homicides would cease to occur if drugs were made legal in Brazil (I wonder about this worldwide). I've never understood why it's difficult for people to understand the awful incentive structures that making drugs illegal puts into motion.
I just want to make sure we're talking about the same thing. 'Making drugs legal' is frequently miss-understood. Treating addiction as a public health problem by decriminalising addicts and personal posession while keeping the trade in drugs firmly illegal, as in Portugal and now Norway, looks like the way to go. The recent changes to the law in Norway are widely reported as 'decriminalising drugs'. That is highly mi…
There aren't black markets for things that aren't illegal. Often, the gang murders we thing of are "turf wars" where one gang is competing with another gang for the same sales territory.
So legalizing drug trade likely decreases drug gangs, which likely decreases murders. People might still die from drug use, but that becomes a separate problem.