POLITICIZING TRAGEDY IS NOT RIGHT

Jumping On RCMP Killings To Push Agendas Is In Very Bad Taste

As the country continues to come to grips with the biggest massacre of RCMP
officers since the Red River Rebellion, there are those who have chosen to
jump on the case as a means of promoting political mantras.

The fact of the matter is, that no matter what side of these various issues
you come down on, the timing is all wrong.

It started quickly Thursday evening and on through the weekend as radio
talk shows and editorialists drew quick and sketchy parallels from the case
to contemporary political issues.

This was done despite not knowing nearly all of the facts in the case and
that eventually led to some red-faced apologies later.

The first item for political debate became marijuana -- its use,
decriminalization, Liberal policy, grow-op crackdowns -- all of this made
for heated debate. The criticism ranged from suggesting had marijuana been
decriminalized, the grow-op wouldn't have been there and therefore neither
would the RCMP and nobody would have been killed, to comments from those
saying tougher laws and punishment for drug users would have prevented the
scenario in the first place.

As it turns out, the RCMP weren't even there for the grow-op in the first
place -- it was discovered as an afterthought.

Meanwhile, political animals jump all over a tragic event to push an agenda
- -- either side of it -- and that leaves a very bitter taste.

But it didn't stop there.

Gun registry criticism was to follow: Opponents to the registry say this
clearly shows the plan is folly and doesn't work, echoing the old knock
that the law-abiding gun owners have never been the problem. Are gun
runners with prohibited semi-automatic or high powered weapons going to
take the time to register with the feds? Not likely. Ineffective and a cash
grab, say critics.

And then there is police funding and training or lack thereof. Surely more
money would have meant avoiding this tragedy?

Really?

And the justice system -- the shooter was known trouble. Why had the system
failed in keeping him out of the situation where he could do this dastardly
deed?

While there are valid questions that we must explore and find answers for,
the time right now is for mourning. Once we learn as many of the details as
we can from the investigation, we can, in an orderly fashion, attempt to
learn lessons that will help us avoid another incident such as this one.

But making political hay -- regardless of stripe -- at this point is
insensitive and just plain wrong.