Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact: provletters@png.canwest.com
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Mark Berry

TOUGH SENTENCES WRONG IDEA

The Province's editorial on the scourge of crystal meth is off base in a
number of ways.

First, the odds of anyone significantly involved in the production and/or
trade of this drug getting a house-arrest sentence are low at best.

Second, you provide no evidence -- nor could you -- that maximum sentences
would magically cure our society of the drug problem.

Third, our top court deemed the seven-year minimum that was in the Criminal
Code years ago to be unconstitutional. One wonders why you think a two-year
minimum would pass the same scrutiny now.

Finally, your "two strikes and you're out" approach is even more draconian
and pointless than the approach currently favoured in California.

Mark Berry,

Burnaby