Pubdate: Mon, 03 Oct 2005
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Emma Poole, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

MOUNTIES' FAMILIES EARN EAR OF PM FOR CAMPAIGN PITCH

Canadians Asked To Leave Porch Lights On In Support Of Tougher Sentencing

CALGARY -- As the families of four slain Alberta Mounties launch a 
nationwide campaign for tougher prison terms and parole restrictions for 
convicts, Prime Minister Paul Martin has agreed to meet with the group 
later this month.

Keith Myrol, the father of murdered Const. Brock Myrol, said the families 
are tentatively scheduled to sit down with Martin the week of Oct. 23.

As they await the meeting, Myrol is asking Canadians to turn on their porch 
lights tonight as a message to the federal government to change the 
sentencing system.

"Honestly, I was trying to come up with a way to involve all Canadians that 
was easy and visible," Myrol said Sunday from his home in Red Deer.

"People needed a conduit to make their feelings known."

Constables Myrol, Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon and Leo Johnston, from 
the Mayerthorpe area, were gunned down at the farm of convicted criminal 
James Roszko in March. Since then, the families of the murdered men have 
been pushing for legislative reform to prevent a similar tragedy.

Myrol and the others have repeatedly asked Ottawa to acknowledge the 
country has a problem with drug control -- specifically marijuana.

The four officers were shot by Roszko after being ambushed as they guarded 
a marijuana grow-operation and some stolen auto parts found inside a 
Quonset hut on his farm.

Myrol said he wants to challenge people in government to work together to 
change the justice system.

"Be Canadians, not politicians. Build prisons, use maximum sentences, say 
no to parole, pat your local police on the back," he said. "Stop slapping 
wrists and start penalizing these violent animals for what they've done."

Myrol is asking anyone who wants change in the system to turn on their 
porch lights tonight between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. He calls the "Maintain the 
right by turning on your light" campaign a grassroots referendum for Canadians.

While he's appreciative of all the commemorative plaques and permanent 
memorials dedicated to his son and the other officers, Myrol said the best 
way to remember the men is to make the system safer.

"I'm not naive to think this is the fix," he said. "We need the memory of 
these fallen four boys to stand for something."

For people who can't be home to turn on a light, Myrol is asking them to 
honk their car horns.

"Let's let this country know that we're done with criminals getting off 
soft and we're done with repeat offenders," Myrol said.

"Let's fix this mess before another life is lost."

Martin faced accusations last week in the House of Commons that he lied 
about meeting the families after the tragedy.

Martin said he did speak with the group following the Mounties' funeral, 
and would be willing to sit down with them again.

"I am prepared to meet with the families again. I would be more than happy 
to sit down with any member of the four families that would like to discuss 
this with me," he told Parliament.

The families are trying to arrange travel plans before securing a date with 
Martin.

Mark Roy, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, said Sunday: "The 
Prime Minister has met with the families after the tragedies and has 
offered to meet with them at their convenience."

The town of Mayerthorpe is currently working on a memorial park to honour 
the officers.
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