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.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager