is prohibition the pre cursor to crime itself?

Question

if prohibition ceased to exist would the biggest part of the crime industry also cease to exist

Answer 1

Well, the glib answer would be to say that if killing people randomly became lawful (or at least, not unlawful), then be definition no-one would be prosecuted for murder.
On a slightly higher plane, there is a real debate whether, for example hard drugs or prostitution should continue to be illegal. Prostitution criminalises women, most of whom are simply trying to make money to feed their families, or drug habits, or both.
If heroin or cocaine were sold lawfully, then drug dealing would diminish, but not cease. As drug abuse drives the bulk of property crime, these figures would then also diminish if the drug were lawfully available at a modest price.
So criminalizing behaviour by definition creates a criminal class where one did not exist before.

Answer 2

Prohibition just increases the use of the prohibited substance (huge increases), and means that its quality is not government controlled, making it more dangerous. You are right, prohibition does not work, and despite figures throughout recent and distant history proving this, the people in power dont seem to get it.

Prohibition also means that most production business is given to large crime rings, as opposed to harmless individuals.

Answer 3

BRILLIANT IDEA!

No Laws=No Crime...

I'm on board.

Next up, lets get rid of currency to eliminate POVERTY!

Answer 4

Yes - by definition, all criminal activity would become legal.