Pubdate: Fri, 27 Nov 2009
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Langley Times
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Joe Zaccaria
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n978/a07.html

MAYOR STANDING UP FOR CITIZENS

Editor: In recent weeks, we've read letters of criticism against 
Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender for his testimony in Ottawa 
regarding Bill C-15. This bill calls for mandatory minimum sentences 
for drug-related crimes. While I respect the right of others to offer 
opinions, I find comments by Mike Foster (The Times, Nov. 18) and 
Travis Erbacher to be very troubling and irrational.

As a member of the Concerned Leaders for Justice Reform (CLJR), Mayor 
Fassbender and others have shown excellent leadership in researching 
and then advocating for various criminal justice initiatives. The 
CLJR exists courtesy of MP Mark Warawa, with early input from MLAs 
Rich Coleman and Mary Polak. MP Warawa faithfully participates in 
each and every meeting.

I have intimate knowledge of Mayor Fassbender's work because I have 
the pleasure of serving with him on the CLJR task force, which also 
includes the Langley RCMP, Abbotsford Police, local fire chiefs, a 
retired judge, Dr Darryl Plecas and others.

Plecas continues to provide us with a wealth of current research that 
shows what is not effective in today's criminal justice system. 
Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis, Langley RCMP Inspector Richard 
Karnarski, Abbotsford Police Deputy Chief Rick Lucy and others 
continue to provide specific anecdotal evidence as to what is 
happening on the streets of our communities.

Erbacher says Mayor Fassbender "has never taken a serious look at the 
benefits of legalization."

But Erbacher fails to mention the mounting social problems that his 
shining example of the Netherlands has reaped as a result of just 
"semi-legalization." The Netherlands continues to spend more money 
per capita than most of its EU neighbours (excluding Sweden) to fund 
law enforcement against drugs. Additionally, a boatload more dollars 
help pay for the alarming health care costs associated with their 
drug abuse problems.

Foster rants about "legislation which will cost us taxpayers millions 
and imprison hundreds of people." But to be fair, he is unable to see 
from his home in Quebec the gun fights on Langley streets that we and 
Mayor Fassbender have seen as a result of allowing hardened criminals 
to roam our streets freely and flaunt the spoils of their plunder.

The legalization of drugs is not going to happen in our lifetimes in 
the United States. Perhaps 80 to 90 per cent of BC Bud (B.C.- grown 
cannabis) is exported to the U.S.

It usually returns to Canada in the form of cocaine. Erbacher's 
leftie teachers did not apparently fill him in on this fact.

The underground economy and violence as we know it will not one day 
magically disappear because of political folly like drug 
legalization. As a police officer, I've seen firsthand what drugs and 
gangs do. In Canada, we have a growing number of violent offenders 
directly linked to the drug business. They are resistant to any kind 
of reformation or rehabilitation.

They start from a place of no remorse for their violent behaviour, 
nor the young lives they prematurely ended. This segment of the 
population must be incarcerated for the protection of our law-abiding 
public. If this requires building more prisons, then it will be much 
cheaper than social impacts created by the alternative.

Joe Zaccaria,

Walnut Grove
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