The following opinion column by Ward Room blogger Edward McClelland does not reflect the views of NBC. These opinions are McClelland's, and are intended to provoke thoughtful discourse on big issues. Please leave your tasteful comments below the article.
I have what I think is a fair proposal for gun rights advocates: unlimited access to firearms in exchange for unlimited access to marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, LSD and prescription drugs.
Since most gun murders are, in some way, related to the traffic in illegal drugs, guns would become much less dangerous to the public if drugs became legal. Guns would no longer be in the hands of criminals because people selling rocks and blows on street corners would no longer be committing a crime.
It certainly worked that way after Prohibition was abolished in 1933. Over the next 25 years, the murder rate dropped over 50 percent.
However, in order for drug legalization to happen, the movement needs some good slogans. Here are a few that have worked for gun fans, adapted for drug fans.
-- I have a very strict bong control policy: if there’s a bong around, I want to be in control of it.
-- A stoned society is a polite society.
-- It’s better to have weed and not need it than to need weed and not have it.
-- When crack is outlawed, only outlaws will smoke crack.
-- Saying crack pipes help people get high is like saying spoons make people fat.
-- Drugs don’t kill people. People kill themselves.
-- You can have my syringe when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.
-- My bong has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy’s car.
-- A free people ought to be wasted.
-- Strict drug laws are about as effective as strict gun laws.
