PANG'S DRUG-FUELED CRIME WAVE IS OUT OF CONTROL

I am writing from Pangnirtung. I have concerns regarding our town and
the growing crime wave that seems to have taken over.

Not only are there a magnitude of break-ins, and smash-and-grabs. We
have tires slashed on vehicles for no apparent reason and within the
last month, we have had two armed robberies.

I almost feel sorry for the RCMP. They seem to work hard, when they
get out of the nine-to-five rut they're in, but they don't seem to
get much help from the court system.

Most cases, no matter how violent they are, get held over again and
again. It's becoming a joke, and with the Christmas season coming
upon us, you know that nothing will happen to the offenders once again.

Our excuse is that the lawyers aren't ready -- but let's get serious
here. How many times can something be held over, and better yet, for how long?

Where are the offenders while this is happening? Right here, doing
the same things again and again. House arrest is a joke. Curfew is a
joke. Nobody cares. Why not bring the lawyers in a couple of days
early and then if they aren't ready, fire the lawyers?

If you have a repeat offender, why send them to an outpost camp over
and over again? What is that teaching them? Most of the young
offenders in this town don't even go to school. They can't read and
they can't write. Where will they be in another five years or so?

I speak for a lot of people as I write this. We're all becoming
increasingly frustrated and even fearful of the things that are
happening. This town has changed so much in the last 10 years, it's
unbelievable.

We have judges coming into town who are doing more damage than good,
by not holding people accountable for their actions. The hamlet is
definitely not doing anything. Let's get a curfew going again.

Everyone seems to be worried about the human rights issues, but they
seem to forget that the victims of these crimes have human rights
also. What about them?

Why are we allowing common drug dealers in town? The police know who
they are. Why aren't they doing something about it? They let them go
about their business and let more people commit crimes to be able to
get the cash they need to buy drugs from dealers.

Many people and business owners are more than just a little
irritated. The situation is quickly approaching a critical boiling
point -- if it hasn't already.

If the situations can't be resolved by law or by those paid to
protect innocents from property damage, theft and armed robbery, then
the victims of these crimes may be compelled to protect themselves by
potentially catastrophic or devastating means.

What will it take to get this situation resolved? How many more
people will get hurt and the biggest question, will it be an offender
or a victim who gets hurt beyond the point of repair?

I feel that at some point, there will be someone just a little more
fed up than we all realize and that person will definitely take
matters into their own hands.

Offenders and victims will then come together or unite to attend the
funeral of the person, whoever it may be.

Name withheld by request Pangnirtung