Pubdate: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 The Daily Herald-Tribune Contact: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) POLITICIZING TRAGEDY IS NOT RIGHT Jumping On RCMP Killings To Push Agendas Is In Very Bad Taste As the country continues to come to grips with the biggest massacre of RCMP officers since the Red River Rebellion, there are those who have chosen to jump on the case as a means of promoting political mantras. The fact of the matter is, that no matter what side of these various issues you come down on, the timing is all wrong. It started quickly Thursday evening and on through the weekend as radio talk shows and editorialists drew quick and sketchy parallels from the case to contemporary political issues. This was done despite not knowing nearly all of the facts in the case and that eventually led to some red-faced apologies later. The first item for political debate became marijuana -- its use, decriminalization, Liberal policy, grow-op crackdowns -- all of this made for heated debate. The criticism ranged from suggesting had marijuana been decriminalized, the grow-op wouldn't have been there and therefore neither would the RCMP and nobody would have been killed, to comments from those saying tougher laws and punishment for drug users would have prevented the scenario in the first place. As it turns out, the RCMP weren't even there for the grow-op in the first place -- it was discovered as an afterthought. Meanwhile, political animals jump all over a tragic event to push an agenda - -- either side of it -- and that leaves a very bitter taste. But it didn't stop there. Gun registry criticism was to follow: Opponents to the registry say this clearly shows the plan is folly and doesn't work, echoing the old knock that the law-abiding gun owners have never been the problem. Are gun runners with prohibited semi-automatic or high powered weapons going to take the time to register with the feds? Not likely. Ineffective and a cash grab, say critics. And then there is police funding and training or lack thereof. Surely more money would have meant avoiding this tragedy? Really? And the justice system -- the shooter was known trouble. Why had the system failed in keeping him out of the situation where he could do this dastardly deed? While there are valid questions that we must explore and find answers for, the time right now is for mourning. Once we learn as many of the details as we can from the investigation, we can, in an orderly fashion, attempt to learn lessons that will help us avoid another incident such as this one. But making political hay -- regardless of stripe -- at this point is insensitive and just plain wrong. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager