Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jan 2008
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2008 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Chris Buors

JAILS AREN'T 'PROPER'

Tom Brodbeck can muster all the damn lies and statistics he likes in
favour of harsher jail sentences for violent criminals. However, the
proof is in the C-26 pudding that the Conservatives are more
interested in punishing sinners rather than violent criminals.

Apparently Stephen Harper was embarrassed to explain Beatles song
lyrics to his children so it would seem there will be a doubling of
punishment for the druggies. Seems there's no difference between vice
and violent crime in Mr. Harper's eyes.

The idea of house arrest was to deal with "non-violent" criminals,
meaning sinners. It's not that too many criminals are imprisoned, Tom,
there are too many sinners imprisoned.

Tom Brodbeck would have to show me how severely punishing children for
doing a bad job at dishes builds a good work ethic and he would have
to convince me how beating your dog for not listening delivers a well
behaved animal before I was convinced jail was somehow proper
punishment for anything. Jail hardens people.

I went to jail for selling cannabis to the ill. I learned how every
make and model of car could be stolen. I learned how home and business
alarm systems can be defeated and a host of other handy skills at
crime school.

Chris Buors,

Winnipeg
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MAP posted-by: Derek