Pubdate: Fri, 25 Nov 2011
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2011 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n669/a08.html
Author: Heather Mallett

LEAVE LEGISLATION ALONE

Re: Fazed and confused, Nov. 19 and Crime in a primer for the PM 
Canada, Nov. 19. I read with despair reporter Chris Cobb's excellent 
article on the new proposed crime legislation, as well as Amanda 
Shendruk's "cheat sheet."

If I thought it would do any good, I would write a letter to Prime 
Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative members of Parliament, 
but since they seen to be disregarding the advice of The Canadian Bar 
Association, the Canadian Association of Crown Counsel, the Union of 
Canadian Correctional Officers, and many other learned organizations 
and individuals, it is likely I would join the chorus of critics in 
Conservative waste baskets. But, just in case the prime minister or 
any Conservatives are listening: if their adolescent child decides to 
try smoking marijuana, and gets caught, how will they feel when their 
child gets a mandatory minimum sentence in a federal penitentiary? 
Won't they wish with all their heart that they had left the legislation alone?

What the Safe Streets and Communities Act proposes is horrible and 
horrifying. Is there no Conservative member of Parliament who is 
willing to look at restorative justice?

HEATHER MALLETT,

Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart