Education, drugs, guns.

[5thHorseman]

So, i'm sat here in my boxers watching an unelected pensioner get hero worshipped for being born into the correct family, and i'm thinking about guns, drugs and all other things that people think about.

I was wondering peoples thoughts about solutions to problems and education on the topics. In my pink mush popped up what seemed like a decent answer. Education, for example; being taught about the dangers of guns(innocent passers by, going off in holster etc) and the consequences. Drug use, addiction problems, side effects and the cost of it on the communities who make it(eg, colombia) and the end user communities. Maybe using graphic imagery on teens to show what happens.

Could many problems be lessened (as obv it'll never go away completely) by just educating people at school age? btw I'm pretty sure i wasn't educated on drugs when i was at school.

Not narrowing this to drugs and firearms either, add other things you can think of.

[Annik]

I don't agree with your suggestion with the drugs. If you want people to rely less on drugs, they need to be taught about natural highs and our society needs to value them. Shock value will do about as much for drugs as it does sex education.

[Erfalion]

Well, I'm still in school and at the start of every school year we are lectured on the bad effects of cigs and drugs, however that doesn't help - most of my class are smokers (cigarettes, don't know for weed) and i myself have smoked at a certain time.
At some point, the girls are gathered up and educated on the Pre Menstrual Syndrome (a.k.a PMS) and having sex at a too young age.

In my honest opinion, getting educated on this stuff has not helped my generation a lot, but it has had a (very) small effect. However, it's good for general knowledge.
We still haven't had a lecture on guns, though.

[The Grand Nudger]

You mean, things like D.A.R.E.? Didn't work.

Firearm safety courses are mandatory for entry to any decent managed game preserve (and are often included on-site as part of the cost and experience) Obviously, you can find plenty of places to buy and fire a weapon that don't give a shit.

If there were no drugs, people would likely spin around in circles and beat their heads against rocks to get a buzz. If you eliminated firearms entirely (yes I know you arent suggesting this, but this would be the most effective form of prevention for gun violence -if only it could be accomplished-) people would beat each other over the head with those same rocks. I think we may be dealing with two very easy scapegoats for our persistent inner demons when we talk about gun violence and drugs.

[Tiberius]

Legalize and educate. Prohibition doesn't work; it never works. People who want guns and drugs will get them, so make them get them through a proper market. Drugs made by proper companies will be safer; guns made by companies can be properly regulated. Educate from an early age, and educate often.