Thursday, July 31, 2008

But the Criminals Told Me it Would Work

Stock's sounding as nutty as ever.

Ottawa's push for longer jail terms will not result in overcrowded prisons or ballooning corrections costs, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day says.

Day said yesterday he's confident Canada can implement new mandatory jail terms for serious crimes and still avoid the U.S. example of having those new sentences cause a dramatic increase in the prison population.

Really? How can you put more people in jail for longer periods of time and not load up the jails?

"The course that we are taking in terms of criminal justice reform and corrections reform is not reflective of what happens in the United States at all," the minister said during a Conservative caucus meeting.

Uh, yes it is. It is precisely based on the US model who has certainly not seen any decrease in crime rates. But Day has an answer for that. You see criminals in Canada are different from criminals in the US.

But Day is betting that the longer sentences for drug and gun offences will deter people from committing the crime in the first place.
"Once you send out a message that you are becoming serious ... that alone starts to have a deterring effect on those who looking at the risk/reward equation in terms of getting into crime," Day said.


American criminals aren't deterred, but Canadian criminals, well you know, they spend more time weighing the pro's and con's of partaking in criminal behaviour.

In fact, Day said the government's new sentences for gun crimes, which kicked in May 1, have already had an effect.

"We heard from people who are involved in the criminal community that they were having second thoughts ... about the illegal business they were going to conduct and using firearms at the same time," Day said.

What? LOL. Did some gang members watch the Committee and Senate hearings on the new legislation and decide to phone Stock to tell him that they were going to continue breaking the law, but now they might not use guns?

And in further nuttiest, speaking about that horrific incident on the Greyhound bus:

Day says he wouldn't even entertain the notion of registering knives as dangerous weapons, noting that millions of kitchen knives alone are likely sold each year.

I watched the Press conference and no one actually asked him about a knife registry. He just gratuitously threw in that he's heard rumours about one on Parliament Hill. Who on earth would propose a knife registry?

Day is often described as someone who has turned around and become a really good Minister. I still think he's way out there.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

But Day has an answer for that. You see criminals in Canada are different from criminals in the US.
Day does not know what it is like to be poor and desperate for money.
Having the Cons direct the economy will surely result in more disenfranchised Canadians - but this should fulfill some of their "fear" fantasies and let them point the finger at others.

Day is a moron, longer sentences has never been a deterrent - this will be another case of "I told you so, you fucking ignorant Conservative loony".

Karen said...

cwtf Day does not know what it is like to be poor and desperate for money.

No he doesn't, nor does he make the link with that and the cause of crime.

Having the Cons direct the economy will surely result in more disenfranchised Canadians

You know, beyond the inane laws they bring forward, that is what disturbs me the most. They are turning the clock backwards and will make things worse of course.

How they are blind to that is beyond me.

Karen said...

If I could add one more thing, dimwits like this perpetuate the myth.

In the article he says that no one knows why there was a spike in crime in 1991.

I have no empirical evidence, but recession comes to mind.

Anonymous said...

There is a bill currently in the us senate that will give lesser sentences to marijuana small growers.

Karen said...

anon, I don't know if it will pass, but it would be a good thing if it did.

Anonymous said...

If I could add one more thing, dimwits like this perpetuate the myth.
It's no surprise that Lorrie Goldstein is a hero to many on the right. The man lies and invents facts to push an agenda. I am disturbed the inexplicable need to lie from those on the right and their sycophant followers.
They are never taken to task.




In the article he says that no one knows why there was a spike in crime in 1991.

I have no empirical evidence, but recession comes to mind.

When Mulroney was in power, I saw that the rich became much richer and more powerful. It was a demoralizing time - people seem to forget how bad things are for the lower and middle class during Conservative rule. The rich rarely seem to complain.


As for Day, your casual analasys shows that his statements make no sense - yet he will be believed...