Conservative MPs are set to lay the smackdown on rabble-rousers nationwide with a bill that will heavily penalize those wearing masks or disguises to riots and “unlawful assemblies” with up to five years behind bars.
The move, which was announced Sunday by Attorney General Rob Nicholson, is the government’s foray in their War on Unreported Crime. On the heels of the Safer Streets and Communities Act, the Concealment of Identity Act is designed by MP Blake Richards to “give police the tools they need to identify offenders who cause damage to this country’s neighbourhoods.”
Taking part in a riot has been an indictable offense in Canada for many moons, carrying a maximum two-year jail sentence. Wearing a mask while committing an indictable offense has also been illegal in Canada for approximately as long, with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. That’s 12 years in prison for doing both at the same time. Isn’t this a step backwards, boys?
In the wake of such shameful acts of vandalism on the part of drunken jocks from the suburbs anarchists after the Vancouver Canucks’ hilarious embarrassing Game Seven loss in last year’s Stanley Cup finals, a bit of balls are certainly needed to prevent such debacles from tarnishing our national image on the world stage.
While it may seem the Conservatives are giving ground here to liberal prison abolitionists and general Canada-haters, this is but a clever ruse. The real punch that the Concealment of Identity Act packs is in the details. Beyond merely legislating masked troublemakers at riots, the bill targets “unlawful assemblies” — much like the recent student uprisings in La Belle Province.
Damn, that’s some fine work, Richards! Top notch.
Why, most of these unlawful protests currently result in some bizarre trespassing fines, maybe some pepper spray, and a few hours bound in zip-ties in the back of a commandeered transit bus. Lord knows how many of these “protesters” have truly been criminals all along! Now, thanks to the brave men and women in the House of Commons, they will be properly punished, along with all those other Unreported Criminals who will soon be routed from our law-abiding midst. Good riddance.
Metro News