It hasn’t been a good week.
That is an understatement and can only truly reflect recent events if said with a heavy-hearted sigh that borders on resigned exasperation.
Albertans are in shock after the senseless murder of five-year-old Taliyah Marsman. When the young girl went missing many hoped she would be found alive, though the discovery of her mother’s murdered body suggested otherwise.
Marsman’s murder does not come long after another Alberta child was slain. Last fall two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette was murdered along with her father in a case eerily similar to Marsman’s.
These incidents always have us asking not only how and why they happen but how can they be prevented in the future.
The answers are never easy. In the case of Dunbar-Blanchette’s murder, the man who will stand trial next year had no previous history of violent crime. Marsman’s, accused murderer’s criminal past, however, is littered with violence.
Random acts are almost impossible to prevent, though that does not make them easier to bear. In the cases of people with extensive criminal histories, we are always left to wonder how they were left to roam free.
Comment threads on news articles and social media discussions range from the need for tougher penalties, better policing, improved mental health and even the return of the death penalty.
Opinions are widespread but the answers from policy makers are often slow to respond. Or, in the case of Harper’s Conservative government take legislation too far. The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the Conservative’s Tough on Crime Legislation because parts were deemed unconstitutional.
While the Conservative bill might have been overreaching and too broad to stand the test of law, it did have merit, especially when it came to violent crime.
Fortunately Prime Minister Justin Trudea seems to agree with that notion. Back in may, following the Supreme Court’s ruling, he said the government would be reviewing the idea of mandatory minimum sentences, especially when applied to violent crime such as murder.
While overall crime rates – including homicide and violent crime –in the country have been on the constant decline since the 1960s, we can’t be complacent. We also have to question some of the seemingly lenient sentences handed to violent criminals in recent years, especially in terms of sexual assault.
Hopefully the Liberal Government will craft a new tough on crime bill that will stand up to the Supreme Court and ensure those convicted – especially repeat offenders – with violent offences such as murder, rape, pedophilia and crimes of a similar nature are kept out of society.
While some would argue that prison does not rehabilitate people and causes people to be at higher risk to reoffend, there is also an argument to be made that there are those who are beyond rehabilitation.
In a perfect world we can help everyone be model citizens. Unfortunately this world is far from perfect and some people need to be kept of the streets.
