Pubdate: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 Source: Windsor Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2009 The Windsor Star Contact: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501 Author: Joseph C. Smith HOUSE ARREST SIMPLY A JOKE Reading the recent article in The Star regarding the middle-aged couple who were charged and convicted of smuggling and trafficking drugs from their house, I was appalled to see their sentence. So, they gave up their house, big deal. It should not have been a bargaining chip as Canadian law requires that you forfeit anything gained by trafficking illegal drugs. This is a serious crime as these prescription drugs are the new drug of choice that cause crime everywhere. Read the recent articles of pharmacy and personal thefts of prescription drugs in Essex County in the last month. So, what is their punishment? House arrest. Are you kidding me? This sentence was handed down by an Ontario judge at the same time that Stephen Harper, Barack Obama and the president of Mexico were meeting in Mexico and one of the main topics was the war on drugs. House arrest seems more like a game, not a war on drugs. Joseph C. Smith Windsor - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr