Madam Speaker, we must not confuse justice and vengeance, as reformers seem to do. I do not think they are acting in bad faith, but I do believe they confuse the notions of justice and vengeance.
An uncle of mine got killed. It was an accident. There was no malicious intent. He was killed in a car accident and it was not clear whether the driver involved was under the influence or not. This was in 1952. In those days, a driver who had had just one beer would automatically have been sentenced to life in prison. It was considered a very serious offence. Finally, a pardon was granted, and the driver involved spent three years in prison. Our family saw him again, because he was a friend. This person never relapsed. He led a perfectly normal life. He was much more a victim of circumstances than anything else.
Had we let our frustration get the better of us, this person would probably have spent 10, 15 or 20 years in prison, at an enormous cost to society. This person would not have made a contribution to the community, while today he is rehabilitated. He is the father of several children who work and who make a contribution to our society. This is an example of rehabilitation and this is why I believe in it.