POTENT SS SE Oo Oe fama good lawyer. Often | have made right out of wrong and wrong out of right, as it suited me. —- Roman de Renad of Paris, in the 14th century. TODAY THOSE words apply as much as ever. Especially to those who make the laws in Ottawa. Which is why people are so cynical. ‘That has been particularly true since capital punishment went down the drain; also since our wacko rulers started gabbling about the “rehabilitation” of criminals. Recognizing that the peasants are restless, the Liberals have pro- vided oceans of inanity about “cough new measures.” But they don’t know what “tough” means. That's why prisons are called “correctional institutions” and why they provide better board and todg- ing than many a hotel. As the Toronto Sun has pointed out, it's three good squares a day. cable TV, gymnasiums, and dental and health care as good as anything that can be obtained on the outside. Plus easy availability of drugs, conjugal rights, no compulsory searching of visitors, and university educations. No wonder the prisons cost us $1 billion a year. Prisoners “rights” lists are as- long as your arm and sentences are not sentences. Six years means only four, or perhaps only 18 months, - Parole boards are stacked with political appointees instead of ordi- nary citizens; victims get to say nothing when the sub-humans who raped and killed come up for sen- tence review. . Victims are thought to be too emotional. But it’s OK for shrinks to testify on behalf of the criminal who knows what a board wants to hear. Juvenile crime could soon be’ reduced to a trickle. - The Singapore solution would help. Especially where violence is used in the committing of a crime or where wanton damage to proper- ty has been done. _ So would open reporting of tri- als. You don’t want your name in the paper, kid? Good. All you have to do is behave. Educational Software BY DISCOVERY TOYS » Millie's Math House (2-6) © Bailey's Book House (2-6) * Sammy’s Science House (2-6) Thinkin’ Things (4-8-+) With your first software purchase you will receive: KidDesk or KidDesk Family | Absolutely FREE! Software Available For Macintosh and JBM PC ON THE OTHER HAND It would also help — a lot — if parents had to compensate victims for the antics dear little Johnny and Jane get up to. All too often, the courts are part of the problem, Taps on the wrist and all that. And f shall not soon forget our own Judge Jerome Paradis’ com- ment in the notorious David Snow case, Snow being the Toronto man who became known as the “cottage killer.” He had kidnapped two women here and had been trying to kill a third when caught. The judge said: “T cannot conclude that the plac- ing of wire around the neck of the victim and the placing of a plastic bag over her head are sufficient to establish a speciiic intent to kill.” Maybe it was a specific intent to entertain? Then there’s the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which has done more for the rights and free- doms of criminals than it has for KEN BAXTER. LAWYER 24 Years Experlence igs anyone else, Mel Smith, QC, has commented on that. Writing in B.C. Report magazine, he mentioned the case of three hoodlums who were “over- whelmingly guilty of breaking. entry and theft.” But they were acquitted because the investigating detectives had asked them to sit in their car for questioning. According to the court, this breached the accuseds' Charter guarantee against arbitrary deten- tion and imprisonment, Patrick Brode of the Windsor Law Faculty has stated: “Gamesmanship is now at the heart of criminal justice (and) it can only reduce or eliminate the aver- age citizen's respect for the law." Carston Stroud, author of a book called Contempt of Court is probably the most biting critic of our legal mess. He had this to say about the Young Offenders Act: “Some of the cops | have known will go out of their way to avoid having anything to do with a young offender. “Who can bkime them? Certainly. not anyone who has seen how pointless it is to catch one, bring him in, go through all the paperwork and extra bullshit, only to sec nothing happen.” Ottawa's recent “reforms,” let it be noted, have done nothing to change that. As for prisons, Stroud says criminals are not afraid of them because they run them. There's more. All guaranteed to put you off your porridge. Only the other day we had a hair’s-breadth escape from having one system of justice for blacks and another for the rest of us. But even Justice Minister Allan Rock could see that one would not fly. Not yet, that is. LONSDALE QUAY NORTH VANCOUVER 988-6321 STAY ONE NIGHT AT REGULAR RATE AND GET UP TO TWO WEEKS _ FREE PARKING. FREE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SEA - TAC INT'L AIRPORT. ae Holiday Syn: BOEING FIELO 11244 PACIFIC HWY S., SEATTLE, WA. 98168 FOR RESERVATIONS CAL1.{206) 762-0300 TOLL FREE 1-800-465-4329 JUST 3 1/2 MILES NORTH OF SEA - TAC INTL AIRPORT OR TAKE EXIT 158 OFF I-5, TURN LEFT ON PACIFIC HWY S. DOZEN COLORED ROSES (Cash & Carry Only) Uormerly Grower Direct) 992 Marine Dr, North Van 1529 Marine Dr., West Van 985-7673 vax: 94S-7808 925-3177 Fux: 925-0177 DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN | & SON cusTOM DRAPERIES, TRACKS AND VALANCES Labour $8.50 per pane! unlined, $9.50 lined. CUSTOM BEDSPREADS & BLINDS At low, low prices. For FREE Estimates call 987-2966 {Ask about Seniors’ Discounts) Serving the North Shore for 23 years Your child will gain one full ade level 4 n 36 hrs. Guaranteed James Je lenten The Sylvan Guarantee: Your child will improve at least one full grade equivalent score in basic math or reading skills after 36 hours of instruction, or we'll provide up to R tnote hours at no further cost, az pyar Centre’ Helping oe be their best a Visie Sylvan for complete guarantee details. North Shore 985-68 i rT) BO YOU USE ALPHA HYDROXY ACID (AMA) OR OTHER ARITI-WRINKLE PRODUCTS? NOW EXPERIENCE THE OPTIMAL PROFESSIONAL AHA SKIN SMOOTHING SYSTEM. QUANTUM HYDROX SKIN SPA is an advanced, high performance — skin renewal system that incorporates potent concentrations of GLYCOLIC ACID (up to 15%) with other AHAs, ANTIOXIDANT. VITAMINS, LIPOSOMES, PHOSPHOUPIDS, ENZYMES, BIOACTIVE BOTANICAL & MARINE EXTRACTS. These breakthrough formulations - A help repair sun-damaged skin A refine pores and rejuvenate appearance A diminish fine lines and acne scars é replenish the complexion in a micro/macro nutrient-rich environment & increase skin resilience and suppleness. & help protect skin from environmental stressors SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES © pH BALANCED ® FRAGRANCE FREE *® NON-COMEDOGENIC © NON-PHOTOSENSITIZING QUANTUM HYDROX SKIN SPA Optimal essential daily care.