Chicago's Brilliant Solution to Its Violence Problem: Tax It (live, law)

[DoubleMakers]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I am "punished" almost every week when I buy booze. Taxes are much higher on booze than other items. I don't really complain about it.

And therein lies the problem with this city. People who have no problem with the government taxing us more and more with little (if any) benefit to us.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I'm in a military class now, we have international students, one of them is from Singapore. I asked him if private gun ownership was allowed, he said it is not. He said they do not have gun violence but they sure have a lot of knife violence.

If anything this supports getting rid of guns altogether - when was the last time a little kid got killed by a "drive by knifing" gone wrong?

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by DoubleMakers

And therein lies the problem with this city. People who have no problem with the government taxing us more and more with little (if any) benefit to us.

That's your opinion. I don't believe facts support it, though.

Raising taxes on cigarettes has saved society a fortune in health care costs.

Legislators briefed on tobacco tax benefits*|*UC Health

State Cigarette Excise Taxes — United States, 2010–2011

During the first 15 years of the California tobacco control program, the state invested $1.8 billion in cigarette excise tax revenue in the program, resulting in $86 billion in health-care cost savings

[Chi-town Native]

and apparently some people here need a refresher:

Supply and demand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

If anything this supports getting rid of guns altogether - when was the last time a little kid got killed by a "drive by knifing" gone wrong?

Thank you for this. I am always stunned by the people who don't seem to see shades of grey in lethality (is that a word?)

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by DoubleMakers

And therein lies the problem with this city. People who have no problem with the government taxing us more and more with little (if any) benefit to us.

You mean country? The US government heavily taxes booze, very heavily.

[DoubleMakers]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

That's your opinion. I don't believe facts support it, though.

Raising taxes on cigarettes has saved society a fortune in health care costs.

During the first 15 years of the California tobacco control program, the state invested $1.8 billion in cigarette excise tax revenue in the program, resulting in $86 billion in health-care cost savings

Booze and cigarettes are not constitutional rights. And yeah, California is doing great with their finances. Taxing guns/ammo will not solve the problem with crime in this city, and you're kidding yourself if you think it will.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/us...estimates.html

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by DoubleMakers

Booze and cigarettes are not constitutional rights. And yeah, California is doing great with their finances. Taxing guns/ammo will not solve the problem with crime in this city, and you're kidding yourself if you think it will.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/us...estimates.html

You can still buy guns and ammo, you just pay more for it.

There were two amendments to the constitution regarding booze. Booze is a constitutional right.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

You can still buy guns and ammo, you just pay more for it.

There were two amendments to the constitution regarding booze. Booze is a constitutional right.

Amen.

[Chi-town Native]

...and I'll just add that the title of this discussion reflects the problem.

The violence is not solely "Chicago's problem," the forces that bring the weapons are most assuredly part of the equation.

And I'm still waiting for a pragmatic solution from the haters.