COURTS ARE JUST THE TOOLS OF THE LAW

Re: Column, "A home that went to pot," July 23.

Andrew Holota describes a situation that is happening all over Surrey,
including two of the 10 homes in our cul-de-sac. But don't blame the courts
- - the courts are just the tools of the laws we have in place.

Did you know there is no minimum sentence for a grow-op conviction? The
current maximum sentence for a conviction is seven years. Much press was
given to the new proposed legislation that will double the maximum sentence
to 14 years; headlines said the laws were being toughened. But there is
still no minimum sentence, nothing in the new proposed law will change the
sentences given by the courts.

If, as a society, we want these grow ops out of our neighbourhoods, then we
have to start by giving the courts some parameters through our laws so the
judges have no choice but to give out minimum sentences.

Talk to your local MPs, and especially those individuals (anyone on the
current city council?) that want to run as Liberal candidates in the
federal election coming next spring for Paul Martin's new government.

Gerald Donkersgoed
Surrey