(Bill C-309) which will make it illegal to
wear a mask at any protest classified by officials as an "unlawful
assembly", with a possible punishment of TEN YEARS in prison! Conservative
MP Blake Richards says police have been asking for a law like this for some
time, and that's why he introduced a bill to make the necessary changes to the criminal code last
month. It will be debated in parliament today.
"When trouble starts, people intent on criminal activity depend on being able to 'mask up' to conceal their faces with bandanas, balaclavas or other means to avoid being identified and being held accountable for their actions," Richards said in a statement last month when the bill was tabled.
The debate sets up some questions, though. For example, the bill exempts people that have a "lawful excuse" for covering their face, but it does not define what a lawful excuse would be.
Also, it leaves open to interpretation what constitutes a riot. The criminal code defines a riot as "an unlawful assembly that has begun to disturb the peace tumultuously."
Bill C-309 would create two classes of offence."When trouble starts, people intent on criminal activity depend on being able to 'mask up' to conceal their faces with bandanas, balaclavas or other means to avoid being identified and being held accountable for their actions," Richards said in a statement last month when the bill was tabled.
The debate sets up some questions, though. For example, the bill exempts people that have a "lawful excuse" for covering their face, but it does not define what a lawful excuse would be.
Also, it leaves open to interpretation what constitutes a riot. The criminal code defines a riot as "an unlawful assembly that has begun to disturb the peace tumultuously."
Those who incite a riot while wearing a mask face an indictable offence up to 10 years. Those who participate in such an unlawful assembly while wearing a mask could face up to six months in jail or fines up to $5,000.
By making this law it will solve and make problems for us. First of all we have to understand the wearing a mask is anything that covers ones face so that people can’t figure out who that person is. This causes questions to arise, what happens when some kind of religious woman who is Muslim or any kind of religion goes to riot? What if that woman covers her face for a purely religious reason? What happens then? Would that woman get arrested for being faithful to her religion? However for this there is also a solution The bill, as it is currently written, does not define what would be a lawful excuse to wear a face covering. Richards said that wearing cultural or religious dress that obscures the face, or bandages for legitimate medical purposes, might fall under the exemption, although the person could still be subject to prosecution for participating in a riot. This still makes it possible that the person could still go to jail for this reason.
There are pros to this law too. Now for the police it will be easier to find criminals such as people who are robbers, terrorists and ect. As there are pros and cons to his law how this law will affect us will have a significant difference to us.
SOURCES
I'm sorry for posting too late. I had some techincal issues. I'm sorry for the weird font I can't fix it.
Nice job Justin
ReplyDeleteYou had many detailed points and this post was really well done.
You had a very clear description on your topic so nice job
Many sources are good ways to show your research for this topic so well done!
Next time try to post earlier or on time but over GOOD JOB!