Pubdate: Fri, 07 May 2010
Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2010 Osprey Media
Contact: http://www.thesudburystar.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx
Website: http://www.thesudburystar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608
Author: Judith Van Boxel

TRAFFICKING SENTENCE TOO WISHY-WASHY

Re: Guilty pleas bring trial to a halt -- May 1.

The Star's report of the arrest of two men at the downtown Rainbow 
Centre for the possession of a wide variety of drugs and a large 
amount of cash is interesting.

What is more interesting and somewhat disturbing is the comment of 
the judge at the second day of hearing in court.

The judge ruminated that the two men could be two "purely 
entrepreneurial businessmen."

What was she thinking? Are we now to regard characters like the two 
on trial for trafficking in heavy drugs that irreparably harm addicts 
and users and eventually all of society, as "entrepreneurial businessmen?"

I find this extraordinary.

I also find the conditional six months of house arrest plus the 
return of $17,500 in cash to one of the defendants, far too mild a 
sentence for this type of disgusting and parasitic behaviour by the 
two accused.

I am reminded of other countries where drug trafficking brings a 
death penalty and while the latter is perhaps too severe, in Canada 
society is subjected to wishy-washy penalties for those who profit 
from selling drugs.

Judith Van Boxel,

Sudbury
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom