[leetcrew]

how about we just make the specific thing we don't want illegal, as opposed to banning the myriad ways that a person could end up doing the thing? some poor soul sitting alone at home drinking cheap vodka all day doesn't actually hurt me. we already have laws against DUI, assault, public intoxication, etc.

[dheera]

I'm not opposed to some dude at home drinking cheap vodka.

I am opposed to some dude getting drunk and roaming the streets waving around a steel bar threatening to hit people, which I have witnessed (in LA).

Being drunk in public is a safety hazard to others and should be at least a misdemeanor, IMO, unless you are on your way home or to medical help.

[leetcrew]

I added public intox to the list just to show how many ways we already have of going after intoxicated people that are behaving badly. I think it's actually another example of an unjust law. the simple act of being drunk in public doesn't hurt anyone either.

> some dude getting drunk and roaming the streets waving around a steel bar threatening to hit people

this is already clear cut assault. why do we need yet another charge to pile on?

[dheera]

> this is already clear cut assault. why do we need yet another charge to pile on?

Because I watched cops do absolutely nothing, because although it was pretty goddamn dangerous with mothers with children around and whatnot.

At the very least, then, make hate speech and threats on strangers ground for arrest. Make wielding any object as a weapon ground for arrest. If they make threats while drunk, they don't necessarily need to be jailed, I'm happy if they're just escorted home and required to stay home for the day.

[leetcrew]

maybe not hate speech, but threats on strangers and wielding an object as a weapon are already grounds for arrest if an officer feels like doing anything about it.

I feel like we almost agree? the issue is not that we don't have enough laws already, but rather that perfectly good laws are not actually enforced.