CRIME BILL IDEAL FOR GANGSTERS

Re: Rethink crime bill, Editorial, Dec. 11

Imposing mandatory minimum sentences will do nothing at all to deter
the gangsters who grow pot, but it will do much to deter the mom 'n'
pop growers. The government is merely pandering to the myopic,
misinformed, punishment-happy voters who believe that only more
prohibition can save us from the problems caused by prohibition.

Bill C-15 is a gangster-subsidization bill in that it will scare off
the little guys and leave more business for gangsters. The gangs will
then have more competition, which means more violence and bloodshed.
Then future governments will use the inevitable increase in crime as
justification for more draconian laws, more money and power for cops,
and more money for jails.

Russell Barth,
Nepean