THE BULLETS HAVE TO STOP FLYING

What can we do to take back the streets of Prince George? The recent
hail of gunfire on a busy downtown street that had innocent bystanders
ducking for cover is not what we aspire our city to be. Sadly, that is
what it has become. While we can look for easy solutions and quick
fixes to gang violence, there are none. The solution to curbing the
gang violence has to come from many differing sectors of society and
it has to be concerted, concentrated, and determined effort.

The first cornerstone for curbing the gang violence has to rest with
the court system. When gang members come before the courts, including
the three arrested last week, the courts should deny them bail. This
should be standard operating procedure for all those arrested in
connection with alleged gang activity. In addition, the time spent in
remand shouldn't count two-for-one if they are convicted.

Also, the courts can start seeking dangerous offender status for those
convicted in events such as occurred last Wednesday. It shouldn't be a
stretch for Crown counsel to argue that anyone who opens fire with a
semi-automatic pistol, or other such gun, on a city street is a
dangerous person. A dangerous offender tag means they can be locked up
indefinitely.

While the courts must get tough on these offenders, that alone will do
little to curb the violence or gang activity. We've seen that here in
Prince George. The police, over the past year or so, have targeted the
Crew and, according to police, have been somewhat successful in
diminishing their numbers. However, that opened the door for the
Independent Soldiers to move into town. There is always someone
willing to step up.

The second cornerstone to curbing gang violence is to seriously tackle
the drug problem. The drug trade is simple economics - supply and
demand. Traditionally we focus on the supply side of things, tracking
down and busting shipments of drugs. That needs to continue. However,
we should also tackle the demand side. This is where is gets much more
complicated.

Immediately, stiffer sentences should be given for simple possession
of drugs like cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth, heroin etc. That
will do nothing to stop the hard-core users and addicts, however, it
will deter casual users and that is a step.

The third cornerstone is dealing with the socioeconomic issues. This
is the hardest one of all but it is the most crucial one. Until we, as
a society, seriously deal with issues, such as poverty and all that
comes with it, we will not be able to put a dent in criminal activity.
Addicts, prostitutes, gang members, and petty criminals are all
symptoms of a much larger problem. We can deal with the symptoms all
we want, but that will not cure what is wrong.

Until we deal with the societal issues that allow drugs and criminal
activity to flourish, we cannot adequately change our city.

The fourth cornerstone in dealing with the gang violence is for the
community to become outraged . all of the community. This is not just
a downtown problem. It is a city problem. Wednesday's shooting could
have just easily happened on the bypass or in College Heights.

The best way for the community to become actively involved in fighting
crime is to report any suspicious activity to the police. They will
respond. The community has to mobilize and stop turning the other
cheek when it comes to crime, even petty crime. Don't think for a
minute that you can't do anything. You can. You can call the police.
They will deal with it.

Until the community decides it has had enough and deals with the
entire problem, it will never go away.