TOUGH ACTION IS NECESSARY

There is no silver bullet when it comes to fixing the increasing
frequency of gang-related crimes that have gripped cities like Toronto
and Vancouver in recent weeks and months.

But the Tories' new anti-crime bill introduced last week is part of
the overall plan that's needed to address increasingly dangerous gang
and organized crime activity across the country. The escalating
violence has the possibility to catch many innocent people in the crossfire.

While the Tories chose the Ottawa police station last week to announce
new legislation for gang crimes, we are lucky the carnage seen in
other communities is not present here -- yet. But, as Justice Minister
Rob Nicholson said Thursday, "No part of our society is immune to the
menace of organized crime activities."

In the case of Vancouver, we can see how easy it is for gang crimes to
have such an impact, and so quickly. In one case, a young mother was
killed in her vehicle while her four-year-old son was in the back seat
- -- he was unharmed.

Crime prevention and rehabilitation programs have their place, but to
fight violence like what's been seen recently, tough sentences and
enforcement are what's needed.

Any talk of society's responsibility for failing people who become
involved in criminal activities does not apply here. The adults
involved in these crimes are old enough to understand the illegality
and repercussions of what they're doing, as well as the consequences.
And those consequences need to fit the crime.

The new legislation would automatically make gang-related murders
first-degree murder offences; would create a new offence for drive-by
shootings with a mandatory minimum sentence of four years; and would
create new offences for assaults against police officers.

And it's welcome news to hear the opposition parties supporting this
tough-on-crime legislation, and even arguing that it needs to go farther.

Gang-related killings accounted for one of every five killings in
Canada in 2007, and prove difficult for police agencies to solve.

This is an escalating problem that has the ability to catch every one
of us in the middle, no matter where we live. Tough action in necessary.