IT MIGHT dampen Art Hanger's enthusiasm for Singapore style law enforcement
somewhat when he realizes Singapore has an addiction rate 12% higher than
the U.S. ("Hanger's bang-on," April 13.) Not many places can say that. It
sounds as though Art Hanger wants to turn Canada into a prison gulag with
legions of cops patrolling for bubblegum chewers and pot smokers instead of
enforcing laws against real crimes. Incidentally, the prison policy down
here in California costs so much that education budgets are being slashed
to pay prison guards. Moreover, reductions in crime are occurring in states
that haven't adopted draconian sentencing policies. Hanger's ideas are not
a prescription for a happy and peaceful Canada.

Redford Givens - San Francisco

(Perhaps. But we should not just keep releasing violent offenders over
and over again, either.)