IT'S TIME TO LOCK THEM UP

Perhaps the strangest logic I have heard from left wing activists in
Canada is that tough sentencing of drug dealers doesn't work.
Somehow, they claim that mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug
dealers will undermine our judges ability to hand down appropriate sentences.

Most of us know that the drive-by and targeted killings we read
about, particularly in the lower mainland, are drug related. We also
know that our children are inundated with the opportunity to "try"
these killer substances. Yet, our vocal activist would have us
believe that the home "grow ops" are not really dangerous. These
"grow ops" are just simple small time mortgage payment helpers.

The so-called "Mom and Pop grow ops" are the beginning of the food
chain that fuels the organized crime empire in British Columbia. Like
an invisible spider web that chain begins the financing and
organization of a monster threat to our society.

We need to reject the cherry picking statistics of the so called
activists and pay a lot more attention to the folks in our town who
have families torn apart because drugs are so available. It is heart
breaking to listen to everyday folks tell of their children and other
loved ones who have their lives destroyed by terrible drugs.

After watching these tragedies, I'm very willing to send them (the
dealers) away for a very long time. At least they won't be organizing
and dealing while they are locked up.

Last February our Federal Government tabled a bill in the House of
Commons that would apply tougher mandatory sentences for drug
dealers. It took from February 27, 2009 until June 8, 2009 for Bill
C-15 to pass through the House.

Since then the Bill has languished in the Senate. This wonderful
unelected group (dominated by Federal Liberals) has effectively
stalled the progress of a Bill that would help protect us.

I don't have a problem with the NDP opposing this Bill. They have
been honest about their point of view. While I believe that the
safety of the Canadian public comes before the rights of criminals,
at least left wing activists like MP Libby Davis take an honest
public position.

The Federal Liberal Party has used rhetoric to cover up their
stalling of this bill. The Toronto Globe and Mail says that Liberal
Leader Ignatieff has had a quiet summer.

Good for him, but what about the peoples business? Using the Senate
to stall improved legislation from becoming law is unacceptable.
Michael Ignatieff needs to order his Senators to pass this bill so
that drug dealers can be locked up for reasonable periods of time.

When folks complain about crooks getting off lightly or let out of
prison early to restart their criminal activity they need to remember
this stalling by Liberal senators. Every political party has a
responsibility to put forward their arguments and debate the
substance of legislation. To shy away from a public position or cloak
themselves in vague moral garments to avoid be recognized as being
"soft on crime" is not acceptable.

This stalling game is nothing more than cheap political back room
games. When it places Canadians in harms way by keeping crooks on the
street, it's not funny. The destructive effects of drug dealing are
horrific. Every day that a drug dealer walks free on our streets
means someones life is terribly harmed.

Many reasonable Canadians would prefer an elected Senate. The
behavior of the current bunch helps me understand why.