Pubdate: Fri, 28 Oct 2005
Source: Meridian Booster (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005, The Lloydminster Meridian Booster
Contact:  http://www.meridianbooster.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1590
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Roszko (Mayerthorpe massacre)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

EDITORIAL: JUSTICE SYSTEM'S A JOKE, AND WE'RE NOT LAUGHING.

You'd think four dead mounties would be enough of a wake-up call for 
Canada's justice system. More specifically to wake up and see what a joke 
our judicial system is.

There aren't many Canadians who would want to have our country more 
"American" - with the exception of their justice system, that is.

Some would likely go as far as to adopt the death penalty again in this 
country, but most would simply like to see a justice system where criminals 
do a fair amount of time for the crimes they commit.

And that's the simple request to the federal government from the families 
of the four slain RCMP officers in the Mayerthorpe massacre.

The families have met with the prime minister and minister of justice and 
public safety, asking for tougher mandatory minimum sentences for serious 
crimes, consecutive, not concurrent sentences and elimination of the bill 
to decriminalize marijuana.

While there's many who would like to see these changes, few can speak with 
more conviction on the matter than these families.

After all, the case of James Roszko couldn't spell out the need for change 
any more clearly. Before ending the lives of four officers Roszko had 44 
criminal charges, including sexual assault and unlawful confinement, on his 
record.

Is there anything that could have been done to prevent the tragedy in 
Mayerthorpe? Hindsight is always perfect, but there is one obvious step 
that could have prevented this whole mess - Roszko should have been behind 
bars somewhere and not on his farm that day. And hopefully the feds will do 
what they know is right after this terrible loss.

The wife of one of the slain officers said it best in her dire prediction: 
"Without changes there's going to be someone else put in my position of 
being a mother with two kids and no dad."

Not even the feds can argue that.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom