Slain Mounties' families want pot bill dropped
Urge tougher action on crime

By MARIA MCCLINTOCK
EDMONTON SUN OTTAWA BUREAU
27 September 2005

OTTAWA--Families of four Alberta RCMP officers ambushed and murdered last March want the federal government to formally dump its pot bill and get tougher on violent crime.

The families of the murdered Alberta Mounties also demanded the feds bring in a national drug strategy and a review of parole and sentencing criteria while cracking down on marijuana grow operations.

"We feel we have paid the price to be heard," said Rev. Don Schiemann, whose son Peter was one of the four officers shot dead by James Roszko during a search of his farm March 3.

Schiemann and family of slain officers Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston and Brock Myrol were in Ottawa yesterday to press their case with the government.

"If we lay this before our politicians and they do nothing and this happens again, the blood of those men and women who are killed will be upon the heads of our politicians," Schiemann said.

The federal government has yet to introduce its pot bill to Parliament.  Justice Minister Irwin Cotler denied it was being shelved, although it's been stalled in a Commons committee for months.

The families are also calling for a complete review of parole and sentencing criteria including consecutive sentencing, minimum sentences for drug offences and crimes against law enforcement officers, and a three-strike rule for drug offences and crimes against law enforcement officers.

"These are the kinds of measures that will keep the Roszkos off the street.  They will provide time for rehabilitation and they will protect our citizens from others like him," said Schiemann.

Both Cotler and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan have said that while they're not convinced that amending the Criminal Code to include mandatory minimum sentences for gun-related crimes will impact on crime, the issue is now under review.