[Mpls] Most drug arrests are local residents

[Michael Atherton]

Mark Wilde wrote:

>  Now, Allan reminded me that one statistic does not a
>  case make, but my point still stands:  The majority of
>  drugs bought and sold in Minneapolis are by people who
>  live in Minneapolis. 

This is an incorrect conclusion.  Truly, the only conclusion
you can draw is that the majority of people ARRESTED
for drugs in Minneapolis identify their city of residence
as Minneapolis.  There are still a lot of "ifs" here.

Most importantly, I would like to point out that it might
be that the majority of those ARRESTED are Blacks who claim
to live in Minneapolis and those not arrested are suburban 
Whites.

I'm just trying to keep this discussion on an even keel.
Personally, I think this issue is not particularly relevant
to the solution.  If you want to blame somebody for intercity
drug problems blame our government, not the buyers or the
sellers.  It's the government that has created a marketplace
for "illegal" drugs.

>  A Star Tribune article this morning backs up my point
>  as well.  31% of boys and 17% of girls in 12th grade
>  in Minneapolis public school report being sold, given
>  or offered illegal drugs at school. 

This statistic has no causal relevance to the question of
the residence of drug buyers at all.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park