According to recent reports, Stephen Harper’s childcare plan was going to be an issue that the Opposition would take them to task on.
Not according to today’s paper (via NEALE). It’s gonna be a rootin’ tootin guns ablazin’ fight…about guns ‘n justice…..Conservative style.
The Liberals and NDP are still in “pantywaist” mode as they think the Conservative plan to impose mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes is ….well…..too harsh. They believe prevention is the key to solving our crime problems. Julian Fantino, former Toronto police chief, pegged these preventavie measures as “hug a thug.”
A Liberal government (if elected) promised to increase some mandatory minimums from one to TWO years. WOW. Big deterrent.
The NDP’ers promised more..“automatic jail terms for illegal possession, sale and importation of restricted weapons be raised to four years from the current one-year term.” And with all of the time served for good behaivior and all, they would probably still get out in a year.
Critics think it (the CPC solution) might contravene the Charter of Rights, so, therefore, it is a bad plan.
A Liberal justice critic called the Conservatives return to law and order “draconian.” I call it “common sense.”
Remember this shooting at a funeral for a shooting victim?
Remember Jane Creba? That incident was the climax to Toronto’s infamous “Year of the Gun.”
How about Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayor David Miller’s answer to stopping violence? Blame the USA. Of Course. Why Not? They’re responsible for the rest of the ills of the world, why not Toronto’s violence problem?
Opposition Inclined to Block Gun Bill
…The federal opposition is sending signals it will block Conservative plans to impose automatic jail terms for a variety of gun-related crimes unless the stiff terms are watered down.
…The legislation, expected to be introduced this spring, is one of the Tory government’s key items in an ambitious law-and-order agenda and it represents the government’s greatest justice hope in a divided Parliament.
…The proposal will call for mandatory sentences of up to 10 years for more than two dozen crimes involving guns if the Conservatives follow through on their election promises as expected.
…The Conservative plan, as it exists in the party’s election platform, calls for new or increased jail terms for 26 crimes involving guns, including five years for possession of a loaded, restricted or prohibited weapon such as a handgun. Other offences that currently carry a one-year minimum would be increased to five years and four-year minimums would increase to 10.
…The opposition, while willing to deal with the governing party to fight a spate of gun violence in urban centres, say the Conservative penalties could run afoul of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ guarantee that the punishment must be proportional to the crime.
…“If we go to 10 years, all we’re doing is providing a long court challenge that is probably going to be successful in striking it down, so I don’t see us as a country engaging in that kind of activity,” said NDP justice critic Joe Comartin.
…Sue Barnes, the Liberal justice critic, suggested the Conservative penalties are “draconian” measures that would have to be diluted to survive a court challenge.
…The Bloc Quebecois could not be reached, but the party has repeatedly focused on prevention rather than punishment to fight crime and is expected to carve out a law-and-order position on the left wing of the fractured Parliament.
…The opposition parties are also already seeking compromises with the government in other areas, such as child care, so they may be willing to make extra concessions on fighting crime.
In spite of the violence that plagues Toronto and other urban areas, the Opposition and the MSM still seems to think that the “slap on the wrist” and “hug a thug” approach is the only way to go. They appease terrorists in foreign lands and do the same to criminals here at home.
