GROW OP WASN'T TO BLAME

The slaying of four RCMP officers is tragic and horrifying enough to
justify publicity and attention. It provides a challenge for all of us to
think clearly -- and not resort to using it to promote whatever views we
happen to hold.

Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan (and several letters-to-the-editor
writers) have not handled this challenge as well as we have every right to
expect. McLellan was one of the first to blame marijuana grow ops and some
police representatives were quick to jump into line. Increased access to
B.C. Hydro bills and tougher marijuana laws were demanded. The war on drugs
was warming up -- with the chances of spending a lot of money greatly
exceeding the chances of a final victory.

James Roszko was a self-described cop-hater and a wildly dangerous man
feared by his neighbours. He had a criminal record. The police went to his
farm to recover stolen property and were attacked by his guard dogs before
the four policemen were shot with an assault rifle designed to kill people,
and illegal. The relatively small number of marijuana plants (20) were not
the reason for the raid and they were not a cause of the tragic results.

The police funerals this week will make it even more difficult to think
clearly but to do so in no way dishonours the lives or service of those
four young men.

Brian Turner, Victoria.