If you have still to find out about this ugly bill C-10 (or S-10 in the Senate) that is going to be pushed through with very little public input while you are going about your Christmas shopping... please do some research... for instance...
- You probably don't want to read all 152 pages but they are available to the public.
- My own United Church has grave concerns regarding the outcome for Canadians if this bill is passed and have issued a press release and sent their letter to Prime Minister Harper.
- The Urban Health Initiative in BC is all about treatment and safety and help for people with addictions ... they have been complaining since this letter sent last February.
- The Canadian Bar Association has presented a 100-page submission to Parliament, but it has distilled that brief into a list of 10 key criticisms of C-10:
Each one of us, however, can make our voices heard.
A new friend of mine shared with me her letter to Prime Minister Harper.
I am now sharing it with you anonymously because I didn't ask her permission to use her name.
(hugs)
later man, jan
-------
Dear
Mr. Harper,
I have
never been politically active, but this crime bill is so wrong-headed and
destructive that I felt I had to do something.
Too
many people think this is all about murderers and child molesters, but most
people who run afoul of the law are ordinary, decent people like you and
me. We are all fallible human beings, we
all make mistakes, and some of these mistakes get us into trouble with the
law. This does not make us monsters,
beyond redemption. Almost all of us
deserve a second chance, and most of us will go on to lead productive lives as
good citizens. Why take away that
chance? It will cost everyone more in
the long run, and not just financially.
Two
points I particularly take issue with are mandatory minimum sentences, and the
elimination of pardons. Firstly, the
mandatory minimum sentences have been tried elsewhere and failed. Why expect them to work magic here? There are already too many people in prison
for the wrong reasons, people who need treatment not punishment. Prison will not make them better citizens,
rather the opposite is more likely.
As to
the elimination of pardons, do you have any idea how difficult it is to get a
job with a criminal record? Most people
with records are not monsters, and given the chance will become hard-working,
productive members of society, even taxpayers!
With a record, many will languish and be a drain on the system. The economic cost is huge. People who want to work and are qualified
should be encouraged, not shut out. All of
society would benefit.
Revenge
is not justice, it is simply revenge, and has no place in a modern civilized
society.
Respectfully
yours,
(name
removed as I am posting this without her permission)
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