VIEWPOINT: MESSENGER SHOT

THE shooting of a Montreal journalist last week comes as no surprise to
many who have hopelessly followed the frightening rise of organized crime
in Canada.

Michel Auger, Quebec's leading crime reporter and writer for Le Journal de
Montreal survived a shower of bullets from an assassin's gun.

Auger's shooting came one day after his latest expose on organized crime.
His article described the recent deaths and disappearances of Hells Angels
and Mafia members as the result of a drug war.

Almost anyone who polices or reports on the activities of said crime
groups, including the ones thriving in the Vancouver area and North Shore,
have received similar "messages," albeit less deadly ones.

Not in Canada you say? What better place?

The malevolent energy behind the bullets meant for Auger began to build
about 30-odd years ago when the federal Liberals, with minor time outs,
took over running this country. Unlike what the feds say at election times,
and true to their mantra, the federal Liberals are soft on crime and naive
on immigration. To this day, the federal government continues to water down
criminal consequences and bends over backwards to ignore or set loose
high-powered career criminals. Widespread organized crime has found a comfy
place in which to flourish within our borders.

Judging from history, the feds' recent tough talk against organized
lawlessness may be just that. The question now is who will be the next law
abiding citizen to pay with blood?