|| By FITSNEWS || Thirty-seven members of a major, multi-national gang were indicted in Charlotte, North Carolina this week on a smorgasbord of crimes including racketeering, murder and attempted murder, the acting U.S. attorney for Western North Carolina announced this week.
The gang – La Mara Salvatrucha (or MS-13) – is a predominantly Salvadorian organization which originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s. It has since expanded across the country, establishing operations in multiple U.S. cities including Washington, D.C., Houston, Boston and Charlotte.
MS-13 has also been active in South Carolina, according to Richland County, S.C. sheriff Leon Lott – recruiting many Hispanics to its ranks.
“As outlined in today’s indictment, the alleged MS-13 gang members have committed numerous violent crimes, including armed robberies, assaults, and murders, for the benefit of the criminal enterprise,” U.S. attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose said. “Today’s charges send a clear message to gangsters who think their gang affiliation puts them beyond the law’s reach. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers will continue to work hand-in-hand to identify and prosecute gang offenders whose violent acts create mayhem in our streets and devastate communities.”
Once again, this website would reiterate its support for the decriminalization of marijuana and other drugs – thus taking away one of the major organizing forces of violent organizations. We would also reiterate our support for free market reform at all levels of government – which would reduce the poverty and dependency that lures individuals into gangs.
Oh, and let’s not forget a long-overdue commitment to border security … one of the few core functions government is supposed to be performing (but isn’t).
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In Colorado after first 10 months, sales tax revenue for pot injected $40 million into the coffers, crime rates continued to drop, fatal car accidents continued to decline. Dogs were not raped by crazed young adults, nor were cats. Incidents of bovine sexual assault remained unchanged in eastern Colorado near Nebraska, but declined in other areas. And this doesn’t even include any additional sales taxes or revenues from fast food sales, and the increased jobs associated with hungry people calling Domino’s and Papa Johns. In the meantime, in Texas, where having a seed is a felony – 9 bikers are dead and 167 arrested following a crazy bar brawl, and in Charlotte we have MS-13. Just think how much healthier it would be to have not-too-bright crackers allowed to make a good income growing pot, rather than mixing chemicals in a meth lab. And – where the heck is Tango????? Think of it, driving down 321 you would pass cotton fields, soy bean fields, cannabis fields, happy farmers, people fixing up their homes, having money to spend. Improved schools as the tax base improved. We could market it – you could have Savannah River Sense, Jasper Red Thread, Hampton Happy Stick, Song of Swansea. Pillion Purple. Oh, the options are endless.
ROCKY for Governor on the “________________ (fill in the blank)” ticket..!!
Thank you for the nomination. I stand here proudly today, announcing my choice for Vice President is Grand Tango.
ya’ mean Joe, Jr…?
Impairment of memory, brain development, cognitive processing and emotions; depression, paranoia, schizophrenia; slows reaction time, kills motivation, more carcinogens than tobacco smoke, inflammation of the bronchial tubes, increased phlegm production, impairment in the function of the small airways inside the lungs, COPD, immune system dysfunction, increased heart rate and blood pressure, decreased fertility, reduced sperm count in men, abnormal ovulation in women…
Yeah, dude! What’s not to love? Toke up!!
MARK for Governor on the “______________ (fill in the blank)” ticket..!!
Sir, how is “Petereit” pronounced?
“Peter Right”. I’m not about to run for any office. I wouldn’t want to take the pay cut, I don’t drink and I don’t do prostitutes.
You may find this hard to believe – but I quit smoking that stuff after college. But the point remains, make it legal – let the buyer beware. To OKAY – take the increased taxes (whatever they may be) and include in that reduced costs for arrests etc – and there is the true monetary benefit. Again, it’s just stupid to keep it illegal. Crime rates in San Diego County are down – and there’s de facto legalization there – once a major crossing point for Mexican dope smugglers.
Rocky ALSO forgot the fact that the cartels have taken over the “legal” pot sales…. it’s actually profiting them more than when it was illegal. Kinda like gambling in Las Vegas did for the Mob. Don’t confuse Rocky with truth…. he just wants to tranquilize himself.
Truthmonger – can you cite some sources for your info that uses hard data, and not just some article with an agenda? First I’ve heard that cartels are now controlling the pot system in Colorado…..so you’re saying the cartels are now tax paying corporations in the state?
Mark – are you in favor of putting prohibition back in place? Alcohol has greater health risks than pot. If you aren’t in favor of prohibition then remove your health arguments about pot and tell us why you’re against legalization? http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/legal-pot/no-high-risk-marijuana-may-be-less-harmful-alcohol-tobacco-n312876
I’m not against pot legalization. I’m against people lying to the public saying pot is totally safe to gain public support for legalization.
Let’s put ALL the facts on the table so people can make an informed decision.
Your reply above made it seem so. Legalization of pot isn’t about hoping everyone will suddenly become potheads. Alcohol nor pot is “good” for you, but having cake for 3 meals a day isn’t good for you either. So if you’re going to list all the health reasons for keeping pot illegal then it’s logical to reason you would want numerous other unhealthy things, like alcohol and overindulgence of cake, made illegal.
Uhhh, yeah, maybe not so much.
While crime is “down” (because you exclude arrests for simple possession), crime rates are actually up about 7%.
But don’t let facts get in the way of gloating…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-a-sabet-phd/crime-is-up-in-colorado-w_b_5663046.html
Well great – now you’ve done ruined my happiness.
Uhhh, yeah, maybe not so much.
While crime is “down” (because you exclude arrests for simple possession), crime rates are actually up about 7%.
You’re harshing Rocky’s buzz.
That tax revenue was way below what was expected and on top of that, the cost of administering the tax is high.
Not to mention, the idea that gangs would disappear because you legalize pot is the dumbest and most naive thing I’ve ever heard. They’ll move on to something else, as they always have. Their racketeering, extortion, kidnapping, all the murders… none of that will go away just because you legalize pot. Don’t be stupid.
Of course the “costs” of administration of the Colorado pot taxes is high … Sending field quality testers and product samplers out and about is expensive, especially when you don’t hear from them for days and day.
(BTW: My Colorado based nephew tells me a lot of pot is leaking into Colorado from out of state. Texan’s and Kansan’s are making a killing dodging the taxes and selling ditch weed as “the kind”.)
SC and NC law enforcement agencies have been chomping at the bit for some “gang” activity to get in on. It’s a great excuse to up-armor, up-gun, and evade Constitutional protections.
lets see who worried about evading Constitutional protections your dumb ass is when you are robbed by someone that could have been stopped before it happened. Typical crybaby. “You are violating my freedoms” then gets robbed or worse so now its “where was my protection?”
*** EDIT how
Gang activity has been here for YEARS. And I want every Constitutional protection I can get. Try not breaking the law, Manray…