The movement to minimize penalties for drug use combined with Prop 47’s reduction of sentences for criminal behavior has provided the “perfect storm” for more addicts to remain free to commit crimes, become homeless, overdose and die.
Addicts eventually self-destruct like homosexuals contracting AIDS. However, society took a more compassionate approach to “curing” AIDS though AIDS is a self-inflicted disease resulting primarily from homosexual behavior.
Substance abusers commit a range of crimes to support their habit and violent acts in their addiction. In the past, law enforcement made arrests and brought the offenders to jail. Inmates would grumble that they got arrested or “caught a case.”
However, former Yuba County Jail Doctor and County Health Officer Joe Cassady would remind them that “they were rescued.” Officers and deputies may or may not see themselves as rescuers but they certainly are. Most addicts in jail would agree with that assessment after they get over being butt-hurt.
Many addicts, once sober, begin to consider the loss – their dignity, job, health, spouse and children. Most, if not all eventually want their lives back.
Untreated addicts get sick and encounter a premature death via suffering, illness or overdose. Addicts often die alone and poor. It is not merciful or humane to make it easier for users to end their lives while funded by the taxpayers and coddled by the institutions that should be rescuing them.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health states that between 2013 and 2018 the number of people that died while being homeless doubled from 536 to 1,047. Most of the deaths were caused by drug and/or alcohol overdoses between 2016 and 2018. The overdose death rate for homeless individuals in the county was also 26 times higher than the general population, according to the report.
On average, homeless people in Los Angeles died around the age of 51, while the average Los Angeles resident’s life expectancy was 73.
Politicians, church do-gooders and government paper-pushers pooling their ignorance and touting myths are actually contributing to a humanitarian disaster mislabeled as “homelessness.” The issue is not a missing home or job. The scourge is addiction and we are funding it and catering to it in the name of being charitable. Instead of helping, we are “pulling the plug” on this population.
It is no different than crippling a child’s thinking by catering to their bad choices and protecting them from consequences by doing everything for them rather than making them work and serve others. Not disciplining and training up a child is cursing them to a chaotic and dysfunctional future.
We are treating rebellious and addicted adults like a good parent would never dream of managing their own children whom they love. Society is deceived by thinking that giving addicts what they want, paying them, and allowing them to live in their own filth on public property, unconscious on a sidewalk or under a bush is somehow a good thing, a humane approach. Stray animals are treated better.
It is the “woke” community that has lost its mind. No sane landlord or business owner would rent to or hire an addict circling the drain. Only government bureaucrats can throw that kind of money away.
Californians’ deluded vote in 2014 to reduce penalties for drug and property crimes led to a spike in car burglaries, shoplifting and other theft, researchers say. Thefts from motor vehicles accounted for about three-quarters of the increase. San Francisco alone recorded more than 30,000 auto burglaries in 2017.
Addicts and gang members are literally walking-off with the store. Helpless merchants are reducing their evening hours, closing off multiple entrances at night and considering closing altogether in some communities. Stores may have great sales but thefts devour profits.
Proposition 47 lowered criminal sentences for drug possession, theft, shoplifting, identity theft, receiving stolen property, writing bad checks and check forgery from felonies that can lead to prison terms to misdemeanors that often bring minimal jail sentences.
Reduced penalties meant that fewer drug addicts are getting treatment and then “are stealing to support their habit,” said San Luis Obispo County Chief Probation Officer Jim Salio, president of the Chief Probation Officers of California.
Enforcing the laws and incarcerating addicts saves lives and makes a healthier and safer community. Addicts need treatment leveraged by the courts. Sobriety leads to family reunification, work and money for the needs of life.
(Get Lou’s podcast at “No Hostages Radio” and his articles at nohostagesradio.com)
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