Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jan 2006
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Larry Comeau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

TOUGHER SENTENCING

Re: Suspect in Boxing Day shooting recently out of jail, Dec. 31.

The fact that Toronto's Boxing Day shooting suspect, Andre Thompson, 
was only given 30 days, two terms served concurrently, for a previous 
armed robbery of a convenience store, rather than a lengthy sentence 
as allowed under the Criminal Code of Canada, demonstrates the sorry 
state of our current justice system.

Sadly, we see this type of revolving-door, slap-on-the-wrist 
phenomenon replayed constantly in our courts.

Rather than once again penalizing innocent gun owners by banning 
handguns, Prime Minister Paul Martin would have had more direct 
effect on serious crimes involving firearms by suggesting judges 
start handing out appropriate sentences for such offences. It appears 
many of our judges see themselves more as social workers, as they 
have gotten away from sentences fitting the crimes. There appears to 
be little or no importance given to the deterrent side of sentences, 
as well as an overriding need to protect society from possible repeat 
offenders.

A few weeks ago a British Columbia judge struck down part of the 
federal anti-gang legislation as being unconstitutional. This is the 
very act that was passed so that police could attack gang-related 
crime, such as is escalating in Toronto and other Canadians cities. 
Far too often, judges are undermining the purpose of the law by such decisions.

Another aspect of the justice system is that drug-trafficking 
sentences have become a joke, although controlling the drug trade and 
violence are inextricably linked. Once again, we see the current 
government wanting to exacerbate this problem by legalizing marijuana.

Rather than pointing to gun control as the solution to curbing 
killings and violent crime, all political parties should be calling 
for putting some teeth back into sentencing practices.

Larry Comeau

Ottawa
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