GRIEVING IS NOT ENOUGH

The tragic death of four young RCMP members in Mayerthorpe, Alberta, like
all tragedies, is already inspiring knee jerk reactions. What should be a
time for grief and mourning is being exploited by shameless opportunists
eager to see marijuana legalized.

Others are citing this terrible loss as evidence that grow-op penalties
need to be tougher.

Both miss the point.

This terrible loss is not a consequence of drug laws or slap-on-the-wrist
sentences for marijuana growers. The issue is a Parliament and criminal
justice system that is so oblivious to public safety that dangerous
psychopaths are continually returned to our communities.

Ticking time bombs, chronic violent offenders and viscous animals are
routinely given early release to offend time and time again.

Consider what we know so far about James Roszko.

He had a long and violent history of run-ins with the police. He hated cops
and loved guns. In 1999 he shot at two people who trespassed on his
property but was not prosecuted. On at least two other occasions he pointed
guns at people's heads.

Despite having been convicted of no less than seventeen criminal offences
dating back to 1976, including assault with a weapon and unlawful
confinement, he had never been sent to prison. That changed in 2000 when he
was incarcerated for molesting a child over a six year period. The abuse
started when the victim was ten years old.

Even though Roszko never owned up to the sexual abuse, he was given
statutory release in 2001. The criminal justice system is consumed with
criminals' rights, their comfort and dignity, and an almost psychotic urge
to keep offenders, even violent ones, in the community.

Crazed and dangerous nutcases like Rozsko will continue to avoid
incarceration. Law abiding citizens and more law enforcement officers will
continue to pay the price for liberal theology.

Legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana wouldn't have prevented anything.
Pot will continue to be prohibited in the U.S. and organized crime would
still be involved. The violence and killing would not subside.

Increasing the penalties for grow-ops wouldn't have prevented anything.
Judges automatically give growers conditional sentences and probation even
though the law allows for a maximum of seven years in prison. The penalty
could be doubled or tripled and judges would still treat even multi-million
dollar producing grow-ops no different than they would a parking ticket.

What happened in Mayerthorpe was not about marijuana.

It was about a ticking time bomb with a long history of violence that the
system was fully aware of and opted to ignore.

It was about an approach to criminal justice that has little time for
public safety.

The most poignant and telling comment on this tragedy comes from the mother
of slain Constable Brock Myrol. She states, "It is time our government take
a stand on evil." She adds, "It is time to take our liberal-minded attitude
to task. Prime Minister Paul Martin, we depend on you and expect you to
change the laws and give the courts real power. Give the police real power."

Unfortunately, taking a stand against evil never made it onto the agenda of
the Liberal Party convention this past week.

Maybe next time.