BIG BROTHER AND BAD LAWS

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "G20 activist acquitted on explosives charges". The fellows name was Byron Sonne and he is one more to a long list of persons who were arrested PRIOR to the G20 conference in Toronto nearly two years ago. Not only arrested, charged and imprisoned but since found either not guilty or all charges were dropped. This is neither civilized behaviour by the Police and Crown nor is it democratic behaviour. In Mr. Sonne's case I suggest that his legal victory while good still leaves ridiculous laws available for Police and Crown to abuse in the future.

The essence of the law is that all the Crown have to prove is intent to do something, not the actual act itself. That is nothing more than Big Brother mindreading tricks. If the state are able to convince either a jury or a Judge that they can sucessfully read an accused person's mind and find intent to do a deed then it's just as good and legal as if they had caught them in the act actually doing the deed. This is incredible arrogant bullshit and should not be permitted in a supposedly civilized and democratic society. The Judge acquitted Mr. Sonne not because it was a bad law but in fact the Judge reinforced the law by saying that the Crown simply weren't able to prove Mr. Sonne planned to make bombs. Meanwhile everyone agrees that there weren't any bombs and that the chemicals necessary to make them are all individually legal to own and possess. It's my understanding that household cleaners and fertilizer can be made into something explosive. It's called chemistry and it's LEGAL. It is not possible in the vast majority of cases to prove someone else's criminal intent prior to them doing the deed. Suspicions perhaps. Concerns perhaps. But proof? Absolutely ridiculous. This is grotesque law and has no place in a democratic society. Let third world dictatorships throw their citizens in jail for alleged conspiracies and or "intent" to do this or that. In Canada alleged criminal acts should not be based upon jedi mind tricks including mind reading.