Pubdate: Tue, 27 Jan 2009
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n096/a02.html
Author: Gertie Pool

IT WILL TAKE MAJOR MIRACLE TO WAKE UP NATION'S LAWMAKERS

EDITOR, THE TIMES:

Re: Our View in Friday's Times entitled Do we need death before action here?

Yes, I believe we do and more.

With the everlasting lenient drug rulings seen in Abbotsford court 
rooms today, our city is become a paradise for drug dealers.

Abbotsford is where one can watch 108 drug related court rulings, 
with 208 charges, emerge into a 97 per cent accused release rate 
without paying a dime. Now, that is paradise in bloom for any drug 
dealer, don't you agree?

Yet, what is wrong with the dysfunctional justice system today?

I found it hilarious to hear B.C. Attorney General Wally Opal tell an 
audience last Friday that he would need to study how tough other 
provinces sentence when it has been known for ages that Alberta, 
Ontario and the U.S. have a far stricter rule of law in regards to 
these matters.

On the other hand, I recall NDP leader Jack Layton and Liberal 
Stephane Dion boldly proclaim how that they would bring down the 
government at once if they dared to enforce their planned crime bill last fall.

So, how can anyone do anything when la makers push nothing but their 
own agenda ?

The Canadian "discretionary system" makes judges decide what 
sentences to hand down. In the "guideline system" lawmakers set 
minimum and maximum sentences for each crime. Then a sentencing 
commission sets a numerical range for each crime based on the age of 
the offender and their previous convictions.

What about the more sentences the longer the sentence? Sounds logical 
to me. Nonetheless, it will take a miracle of magnificent proportion 
to wake up the lawmakers in Ottawa.

I am pretty glum about the present ill-considered justice system but 
with men like local MLA John Van Dongen and a police force working 
hard to tackle the problem, there is a glimmer of light at the end of 
the tunnel.

Gertie Pool

Abbotsford
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