Why are illegal drug-related street deals associated with violent acts like murder/shootings.
In: Culture
1) A drug dealer’s business is all cash. He doesn’t take credit cards, debit cards, or checks. So he’s gonna have a lot of cash on him, meaning he’s a profitable target to rob.
2) The underground economy has no police or laws. If someone steals from you, defrauds you, cheats you, or defaults on a loan, you have no recourse. You can’t go to the police and complain “some guy stole all my cocaine!” And you can’t sue someone in court for not holding up their end of a business deal. So all your protection has to come from the violence you yourself can muster (or the violence of your gang or mafia). You and your gun are all you have to protect yourself and protect your drug business.
3) In this violent, unstable environment, business deals are not negotiated between equals. Whoever has the backing of more violence (the more powerful gang, for example) gets to set the terms, no matter how unfair, and the weaker party usually just has to take it or get out of the business. If the weaker party *won’t* take it, then their only way of standing up for themselves is through violence.
4) Criminal underworlds often have complex rules about territory, tribute/protection money, and respect/deference that must be paid to certain powerful people. All of these as well are enforced by violence. Someone who sells in another’s territory, refuses to pay protection money, or disrespects the authority of a high-ranking gang leader, will be punished with violence.
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