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Many prominent Canadians appear to be in a vindictive mood over the tragic shooting of Colten Boushie. It seems terribly divisive and lacking in compassion.

A few, including the prime minister, paid lip service to fair trials. But their passionate extended remarks make publicly clear that they wish farmer Gerald Stanley, acquitted by a jury, had instead been convicted of second-degree murder or manslaughter.

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If Stanley truly believes what happened was an accident, there must be at least some compassion for a man who will live the rest of his days with the knowledge that he took a human life under frightening and fast-moving circumstances. Also, possibly, living in the fear of facing vigilante justice, with so many whipping up hatred and hysteria by claiming this white guy right here, in this photo, basically got away with racist murder and we all know where he farms.

Rampant crime and ineffective policing are a huge issue in the rural parts of Western Canada. And it cannot seriously be argued that citizens everywhere would only object to repeated thefts and burglaries if the perpetrators were exclusively white. Disagreement over the verdict is one thing, but to suggest that Saskatchewan in 2018 is Mississippi burning is a reckless calumny.