Keep justice separate from politics

Re: Tories to force vote on transfer of child-killer, Sept. 29.

It is not very difficult to understand the anguish of Tori Stafford’s father. If one of my children had been killed in that manner, I am not sure I could have survived with my sanity intact. I also think that Correctional Services Canada should have had the good sense to contact the Stafford family and explain what was about to happen and why and see what their concerns might be and at least take them into consideration.

Having said the above, I really do not think that decisions surrounding corrections should be the subject of political debate. It is one thing to ask reasoned questions of the minister. Sanctimonious, self-righteous raving is another matter.

It is usually very easy to judge acts. An act more heinous than the murder of Tori Stafford is difficult to imagine. However, it requires a god to judge the actors, and none of us qualify. Terri-Lynne McClintic almost undoubtedly has a childhood background of severe abuse and, of course, she went from the frying pan into the fire when she met Michael Rafferty. She was undoubtedly under his control.

That does not, by any stretch of the imagination, excuse her conduct, and that is why she has been in jail since the date of her arrest and will be there for many more years, if not the rest of her life. However, we punish people by restricting their freedom, not by trying to make their lives as miserable as possible inside of jails. Anyone who thinks that they could have survived the horrific abuse that this woman almost certainly survived and still be a sane, law-abiding, and productive citizen has a great deal more selfconfidence than I possess. Trying to help this woman heal does no one any harm.

Bruce F. Simpson, Ottawa

A hard-working Iranian-Canadian wants to build a dream home for his family. This angry group does not like how the new build will fit in with their preconceived notions of how ‘their’ street should look. Tony Veale