Recent items of news indicate there is a great concern for assisting older and disabled people to commit suicide. Time and money is spent in furthering this promotion, even involving the Supreme Court (a group of politically appointed lawyers) who override laws passed by the government (a group of duly elected people).
It wasn't too long ago that suicide of any kind was illegal but even nurses are now advocating for the right to help perform this task. It may become known as the kill-thrill factor. There is also great concern in the news that street drugs are killing many people who use them. We know that those who use them do so willingly and without coercion from anyone. They also know that they are risking their lives by doing so but, in spite of this, continue with this life-threatening practice.
Once again, considerable time and money are spent assisting this group with their habits and compulsions (safe injection sites, etc.) We don't even question the fact that most of their drugs were paid for by the user from the proceeds of a crime that they committed.
So on the one hand we are paving the way and making it easier for respected and contributing members of our society to kill themselves and on the other we are doing everything that we can to prevent those who are a burden on society and who prey on it from doing the same thing.
Seems to me that we have our priorities mixed up.
Wally Neufeld,
Prince George
