GETTING TOUGH ON CRIME NO SOLUTION

Today I received a 'fear request card' from Conservative candidate
Jack McClintock, a 25-year police veteran. The headline was "Have you
had enough?" and it featured a photograph of police tape sealing off
a door. On the back was a promise to make our streets safer by "getting tough."

My answer to Jack: Yes, I have had enough . of scare campaigns
targeted at raising our fears in hopes of enacting ineffective policies.

Of the statistics I am aware of, our streets are not unsafe. Yes,
street crimes do occur, but is the effective solution to 'get tough,'
such as by mandatory minimum sentences?

No. You only have to look south of the border to see how well the
logic of getting 'tough on crime' works - more prisons, more fear,
fewer freedoms.

Not all law enforcement professionals ascribe to the 'get tough'
mentality. In fact, thousands of voices from law enforcement are
speaking actively against 'get tough' and in favour of 'getting
real.' They form an organization known as LEAP - Law Enforcement
Against Prohibition - which includes current and former police
officers, judges, and prosecutors. Their belief, based not on
outdated political fear-mongering, but instead on sound science and
careful analysis, is that the war on drugs must end.

It doesn't make sense to offer solutions that have proven not to
work. But there is another way, via compassion and understanding. The
'answer' to our social ills is here and now. The question is: have
we, society, felt enough pain from the laws that reflect our
addiction to anger? Are we ready to try another way?

'Get tough' must end. We are no safer with it, only more divisive and fearful.

Daniel Tourigny Victoria