Pubdate: Tue, 9 Feb 1999
Source: Calgary Sun (Canada)
Copyright: 1999, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySun/
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html
Author: Alan Randell
Comment: Parenthetical remarks by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk

REVIEW LAWS WITH A CRITICAL EYE

H. LANGE (Letters, Feb. 5) pours scorn on a previous letter that called for
prostitution to be legalized because efforts to eliminate it had failed.

Lange asked the rhetorical question: "Why do we not then continue with that
logic and decriminalize all things which are now illegal."

That's not as crazy as it sounds. Why should we continue today's laws ad
infinitum just because they're there?

The laws were created in the first place by mere mortals, so why can't we
mortals undo them today?

In my opinion, our current laws could stand to be reviewed with a critical
eye. I should like to propose we do away with each and every Criminal Code
offence punishing people for doing something that does not directly
physically harm or rob another person.

For example, let's sweep away all laws banning prostitution, drugs and
gambling, as well as those that punish individuals for not wearing
seat-belts or helmets.

Alan Randell

(Drug and gambling addictions, as well as injuries caused by flouting
seat-belt laws, cost society plenty.)

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