Drug Violence The Root Cause of Shootings

Updated Jan. 11, 4:38 pm -- Like I said earlier, the tragic shooting of the little boy in Marion is really about drug trafficking, not guns. But there will be those shrill voices that try to turn it into a gun control story.

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My heart goes out to the family of the little four-year-old boy in Marion, Ohio, who was the innocent victim of a drive-by shooting this week. A little victim, now in critical condition, stuck in the middle of an apparent family feud linked somehow to drugs. And once again, the facts of this case back up the message politicians need to get through their heads -- quit pandering to the politically correct and claiming that guns are the problem.

From today's Columbus Dispatch: "Neighbors don't know the Glover family. They don't much care for them -- too much commotion, too many people coming and going at all hours.

"Marion police think the drive-by shooting that injured the boy is the latest in a series of drug-related clashes between two warring factions.

"The feud is thought to be drug-related, but police don't know its origin."

Incidents like this happen every day in far bigger cities across the U.S. than Marion, Ohio. For example, two rival gangs at a top high school in Prince Georges County, Va. are into the drug trade, and a drive-by shooting this week wounded two female students, one critically, and an adult bystander.

From today's Washington Post: "Tensions over control of street corners, where the groups are involved in drug trade and other crimes, are driving vendettas that have played out recently in the hallways of the high school, the sources said."

Every day, mayors and council leaders in large cities will proclaim a need for stronger gun control. But never stronger drug control (remember folks, with them it is not really about firearms, it is about control). Politicians also will say one thing when they are attacking guns, but quite another when running for office, citing their "strong on crime" philosophy.

All the while they will ignore the root problems, the real illness -- gangs and the drug trade -- in favor of a bandaid they think they can slip by voters who are sick and tired of the crime. A bandaid that infringes on your and my rights to own a firearm for whatever lawful purpose we choose.