CHALLENGING BELIEFS

Dan Gardner continues to offer hard factual data proving that tough
sentences do not deter criminals. It does not seem to matter how much
evidence he offers, the belief (delusion) continues.

When Copernicus and then Galileo proved that the earth revolved around
the sun, those who believed (taught) that the earth was the centre of
the universe refused to abandon their beliefs -- some for centuries.

Mr. Gardner has been challenging cherished beliefs about crime,
punishment, drugs and prostitution since he joined the Citizen. He
does not see social issues as right versus wrong or black versus
white. He grapples with detail and sees the shades of grey ... and he
does it without insulting or demeaning anyone.

I hope it does not take centuries for us to abandon the belief that
criminal law can fix social ills.

Harvey Davey,

Ottawa