MAYERTHORPE, AB—The families of four slain police officers want to turn on the lights in their fight for an effective national drug strategy and a review of the justice system. And they want to involve all Canadians.

“We wanted to find a way for the average Canadian to get involved and we didn’t have a lot of resources or time. Together we thought this would be the quickest way to generate a response,” explains Don Schiemann, a Lutheran pastor and father of Peter Schiemann, one of four Mounties killed in Mayerthorpe, Alberta in March.

Those organizing the Referendum of Light initiative hope to see all Canadians turn on the front lights of their home on the third day of each month between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. until March 3, 2006, the first anniversary of the tragedy.

“We anticipate seeing a wave of light and energy for change moving across Canada’s time zones,” says Schiemann.

James Roszko gunned down the four Mounties as they staked out his farm where they had discovered stolen car parts and a marijuana grow operation. It was the latest in a long series of run-ins with the law for Roszko, who had been charged with 36 offences through the years, convicted 12 times and was well-known locally for his hatred of the police.

The group organizing the Referendum of Light campaign hopes to see legal reform with the implementation of mandatory minimum sentences of two to four years to ensure those convicted serve jail time, and possibly a three-strike rule that would see mandatory prison terms for three-time drug offenders. They’re also calling for consecutive sentences for multiple offenders and tighter parole rules for violent offenders.

“We want to be able to say to politicians that this is an important issue for all Canadians and if you do not address this, we will not re-elect you,” says Schiemann.

As a pastor and a Christian, Schiemann says citizens should respect the role of government leaders to create and uphold order in society. But he says Christians also need to know when to put pressure on the government to fulfil their obligations to Canadians.

“God has written on the hearts of all humankind and all the law will do is correct behaviour,” he says. “The only way to change hearts is by the gospel. So, as a Christian pastor, I will continue to be active in preaching the gospel but I also need to do my part as an individual citizen of my country. And I encourage others to join me in this fight.”