Quebec's inmates say smoking ban making life in prison unbearable, say their human rights

[snagglepuss]

are being violated. Inmates going to court claiming that they are being subjected to cruel and unusal punishment. Federal Law bans inmates smoking anywhere in prison so smoking inside isn't allowed inside or outside cells. Inmates upset guards can smoke outside and claim that allowing guards to smoke is discriminatory.


I think this is priceless. Too bad that murderers can't handle the anxiety of prison life. Cry me a river. :nopity:


From the Globe and Mail

"Food cravings, stress, headaches, sleeplessness – those are just some of the troubles listed by a group of prisoners unhappy with Ottawa's ban on tobacco in federal prisons."


Mr. Matticks, known as the King of the Port of Montreal for his role in the drug trade, said he was a pack-a-day smoker and the ban has made his time behind bars “difficult.”

Benoît Guimond, a biker gang member serving time for murder, said he's suffering physically and psychologically with symptoms including “a rise in aggressiveness, anxiety, stress … trouble sleeping impatience.”

In a brief to the Federal Court, the inmates say their litany of woes caused by tobacco deprivation has, perversely, made them “greatly fear for their health.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/quebec-inmates-challenging-federal-ban-on-tobacco-in-prisons/article1319700/


From CTV

""The convicts, despite their often-violent past, say their inability to smoke makes them stressed, angry and aggressive, which in turn could make prison very dangerous for themselves and others.


Still, the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers supports the total ban, saying tensions have actually decreased since it was implemented last year.


"In the year and a half since the tobacco ban, we have not seen one single incident that can be attributed to the ban on tobacco," said union spokesperson Lyle Stewart. "



http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091014/mtl_smoke_101409/20091014/?hub=MontrealHome


:nopity:


edit spelling

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. It's a river. And not the one in Egypt.

Crimea River.

:rofl:

[snagglepuss]

2. "Crimea River' that is brilliant. ROFLMAO

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[vadawg]

13. fucking genius, im going to use that one with permission..

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. I suppose...

...a lack of freedom would make prison seem intolerable as well.

[GodlessBiker]

4. I think allowing them to smoke while under state "care," and causing injury to their health, ...

would be a violation of their human rights.

[snagglepuss]

5. That is an excellent point. nt

[Ikonoklast]

6. Some people just cannot envision where their poor decision-making may lead them.

My heart weeps for the peddlers of drug addiction and murderers who are banned from smoking while in prison.


Eff 'em.

[pipi_k]

7. "The guards can smoke outside but we can't!!!!!"

uh...yeah.

Because the guards CAN go outside. Because, like, they're not sentenced to prison.

Not being able to smoke is making their prison sentences "difficult"? Oh, sorry, how stupid of us...yeah, prison is supposed to be like one big country club.

It's not enough they get food, clothing, a place to sleep, and medical care all at taxpayer expense.


sigh...no pity for them. None at all. It'll do 'em good.

[SoCalDem]

16. perhaps criminals who smoke, will have second thoughts about continuing their "careers"

:rofl:

[JonQ]

8. What about those poor souls addicted to harder stuff

heroin, meth, crack, etc. Or alcohol as well (not that it's a particularly bad drug but still).

Shouldn't they be entitled to whatever their drug of choice happens to be (even if that was the cause of their imprisonment?

Also, being confined against my will tends to make me stressed, angry, and aggressive. As such I don't feel jail would ever be an acceptable punishment for me.

[snagglepuss]

9. "being confined against my will tends to make me stressed, angry, and aggressive.

As such I don't feel jail would ever be an acceptable punishment for me."

That's hysterical. :rofl:

[old mark]

10. You know, perhaps the crimes they committed made some other people's

lives intollerable, but they never considered that aspect before.

Doesn't seem they will ge a lot of sympathy.

mark

[snagglepuss]

12. Well said. How true that the loss of their beloved smokes might give them a

taste for the loss other people endure as a result of their crimes.

[old mark]

15. I worked with people like them for some time. Many completely lack

any comprehension of the shit they spread around on earth...they wanted something, and someone else had it or happened to be in their way. Their usualcomment,"Too bad it had to be that way."
(But it didn't HAVE TO, did it?)

Some people should not be on the street, period.

mark

[Mojambo]

11. Give em the gum. n/t

[JonQ]

14. I read that first as "give them a gun"

presumably with one bullet, in a locked bullet proof cell.

[Jersey Devil]

17. Well, I read it as "gub"

from Woody Allen’s movie “Take the Money and Run”, in which the incompetent criminal Virgil is trying to rob a bank:

Teller: What does this say?
Virgil: Uh, can’t you read that?
Teller: I can’t read this. What is this? “Abt natural”?
Virgil: No it just reads, “Please put $50 thousand into this bag. Act natural.”
Virgil: (pointing to the note) “I, uh, am pointing a gun at you.”
Teller: That looks like “gub”, it doesn’t look like “gun”. No, it’s “gub”. That’s a B.
Virgil: No you see, it’s an N … G-U-N.
Teller: George, would you step over here a moment please.
Teller: What does this say?
George: “Please put $50 thousand into this bag and … abt” — What’s “abt”?
Teller: “Act”. Does this look like “gub” or “gun”?
George: “Gun”. But what’s “abt” mean?
Teller: It’s “act” … A- C-T, act. Please put $50 thousand into this bag. Act natural.
George: Oh, I see, this is a hold up.
Virgil: Yes.

[XemaSab]

18. They have food cravings, stress, headaches, and sleeplessness...?

Someone call a WAAAAAAAH-mbulance. :eyes:

[Soylent Brice]

19. ATTICA!!!!!!