Week of November 26, 2007

In 2005, we had the 'Summer of the Gun' and in light of recent reports, 2007 may be remembered for the 'Fall of the Taser'. Although, it is unlikely that the events of this period will spawn efforts to Tackle Tasers as political interventions in the sphere of crime and punishment are with few exceptions reserved for ‘suitable enemies’.

With electricity in the air, crime talk pertaining to the Tackling Violent Crime Act has not featured prominently in the news media or in the communications of political parties this week. Nonetheless, a few cracks in the rhetorical shield of Canada's ‘new government’ have been spotted by a few members of the media, who have chosen to move beyond the promise of slogans to examine the impact of similar legislation elsewhere. For this, they asked the simple question: has similar legislation been successful in reducing violent crime rates in the United States?

In their search for an answer, they found that the implementation of schemes including mandatory minimums, three-strikes and truth-in-sentencing legislation beginning in the early 1980s in the U.S. has not led to a reduction in such crimes. In fact, when comparing the rates of homicide in Canada which has not had such sentencing laws in place (1.8 per 100,000) to that of the United States (5.5 per 100,000) over a twenty year period (1980-2000), it seems that we may be ‘tackling’ a phantom menace.

Let me add another log to the fire by hitting your pocketbook. According to Statistics Canada, there were 129 Canadians imprisoned for every 100,000 residents, including 12,300 federal prisoners and 9,800 provincial prisoners. The cost: $2.8 billion or $126,697 per prisoner. Looking at these figures, I can’t help but wonder what a fraction of this amount invested in the lives of the affected individuals through education and vocational training could have.

- Justin Piché

November 26, 2007:
Jail staff cleared after N.S. man shot with Taser: officials
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2007/11/26/corrections-hyde.html

November 26, 2007:
Border agency to give details in airport Taser death
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/26/taser-cbsa.html
More airport security, other actions needed, CBSA says in Taser incident report
Timeline traces 9 hours from man's arrival at Vancouver airport to his death
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/26/bc-cbsareport.html?ref=rss

November 26, 2007:
Crime bills vs. bills for crimes – Copycat theme focuses on wrong problem, again
http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_mallick/20071126.html

November 27, 2007:
Ottawa intent on minimum sentences despite suggested ineffectiveness
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=fb8026cd-9734-4ca2-987e-94e2f3a67e13&k=50159

November 27, 2007:
OPP commissioner defends Tasers
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/27/ot-fantino-071127.html
Interview with Thomas Smith, Chairman of Taser International, on CBC’s The National
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/vsu/wmv-hi/taser-intvus2-071127.wmv

November 27, 2007:
Canada moves to intervene in case of Montrealer in Indian prison
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/11/27/india-prisoner.html

November 27, 2007:
Albertan on death row takes Canadian government to court
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/11/27/death-row.html
Liberals Support Legal Action to Counter Conservative Death Penalty Decision
http://www.liberal.ca/story_13374_e.aspx

November 27, 2007:
Quebec victims of violent crime to get unpaid 2-year leave
Labour minister says proposed legislation 1st of its kind in the world
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/11/27/worker-rights.html

November 28, 2007:
Organized crime, big and small, stretches across N.L., police say
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/11/28/organized-crime.html

November 28, 2007:
Polish authorities probe Taser use in Dziekanski's death
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/11/28/taser-poland.html
Poland probing death at Vancouver airport
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071128/airport_death_071128/20071128?hub=Canada

November 28, 2007:
Manitobans may face fines, jail for not reporting child porn
Child abuse laws to be expanded
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/11/28/child-porn-law.html
Manitoba law to require reporting of child porn
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071128/manitoba_law_071128/20071128?hub=Canada

November 29, 2007:
Death-row Canadian's accomplice has been free for years
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/11/29/albertan-death-row.html

November 29, 2007:
Strong Canada. Safe Communities.
http://www.conservative.ca/EN/2459/94256

November 29, 2007
Ian Bush shooting self-defence, commissioner concludes
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/28/bc-ianbush.html

November 30, 2007:
Laws hinder RCMP and CSIS, says Zaccardelli
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/11/30/zaccardelli-airindia.html

November 30, 2007:
Federal court strikes down refugee agreement
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071130/refugees_071130/20071130?hub=Canada

November 30, 2007:
NDP calls on Conservatives to get rid of Safe Third Country Agreement
http://www.ndp.ca/page/5953

November 30, 2007:
Time for a Taser debate
http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_rose/20071130.html

December 1, 2007
FIGHTING CRIME – TheStar.com | News | O Cannabis! War on drugs seen as flawed echo of U.S.
O Cannabis! War on drugs seen as flawed echo of U.S.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/281501