Pubdate: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833 Author: Riaan Kriel Note: Riaan Kriel is a member of the community editorial board. THE LAW IS THE LAW Since the earliest days of civilization there have been laws of some sort. The object of laws are to regulate a community to function in an orderly manner and to protect the people in that community. With the law goes punishment for breaking the law. Although many laws such as thou shall not kill thy neighbour, are universal, many laws are culture bound. Some of these laws can be harsh. In some countries the law determines an unwed mother is to be stoned to death. We are not told what happens to the man who impregnated the woman. There may be some out-of-date laws on the statute books of Canada but in this democratic country each law is motivated so we all can live in a safe and well organized community. Those who break the law and are caught, normally pay the penalty attached to that law. Unfortunately there are some people who do not want to accept punishment for breaking the law and try to buck the system, totally uncaring of the consequences of their actions. As the media cast the spotlight of publicity on these people, they become braver and more challenging. An octogenarian refuses to see to it that her portion of the sidewalk is cleared of snow and ice and challenges the law. She ensures us the sidewalk is user friendly. What a lot of rubbish! Emboldened by all the publicity she receives, she insists on going to jail to prove her point. But what point does she want to prove? Surely the motivation behind the bylaw is to ensure the public can use that sidewalk without the danger of slipping and sustaining serious or even permanent injury. On Page A5 of the Dec. 13 News we read about a man in Ontario "who sells marijuana seed and seedlings in a deliberate challenge to the law." Now ain't that great. However, on page A7 of the same edition we read a report about a study carried out by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police which concludes that "indoor marijuana-growing operations pose an increasing threat to public safety and cost consumers millions of dollars in stolen electricity and insurance costs." The study goes on to say these indoor marijuana-growing operations are located in residential areas where it is largely controlled by organized crime, endangering children and their families. These people who challenge the law may be heroes to some and may even amuse others, but always remember you are paying for the actions of these law breakers. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman