CREATIVE SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO HALT BC'S GANG WAR

A new opinion poll shows that the Metro Vancouver public are
generally supportive of "a series of proposed justice reforms to curb
gang activity" and that "nearly two-thirds also back the legalization
of marijuana" as a means of taking the profit out of the drug trade
that fuels much of the current gangland shootings we've seen.

While there is a good argument in favour of these measures it should
be noted that none of them are a panacea to the crime wave that's
plaguing the region.

It probably is an enormous waste of money and police resources to go
after every marijuana user in the country, but legalization would not
take the profit out of the trade - unless the drug was legalized in
the United States as well as in Canada. This is highly unlikely to
occur, because President Barack Obama's new administration has much
bigger issues on its plate right now than liberalization of their drug laws.

This province purportedly produces about $3 billion a year of "BC
Bud" and in all likelihood only consumes a fraction of that amount.
The rest is exported, primarily to the U.S., where it fetches a
significantly higher price than it does in B.C.

We've seen gang-affiliated criminals bringing the BC Bud across the
U.S. border in the floor of cattle trailers, in duffel bags hurled
across the "unguarded border" and we've even seen a tunnel dug by
hand by BC Bud smugglers right next to the Aldergrove-Lynden border
station. There was also a gang-style shooting at a marijuana grow-op
in the Aldergrove area last month.

There is simply too much money to be made in this cross-border trade,
which also brings guns and cocaine into Canada from the U.S.
Liberalizing Canada's drug laws alone won't take this lucrative
profit out of the illegal businesses operated by the gangs and
organized criminals in Canada and the U.S.

Nor do the law enforcement and justice systems have all the answers.
Beefing up both is, however, the only solution to getting the
hardened criminals off the street. The only thing these reprobates
fear is a good butt-kicking by police and the courts, although this
will require creative thinking too.

Remember that infamous gangster Al Capone was impervious to the best
efforts of police and justice until a bright mind came up with a
brilliant solution: nail him on income tax evasion on his undeclared
income. Capone died in jail - of syphilis, mind you - but if not for
this Internal Revenue conviction he'd have lived all his life a free man.

But looking ahead, a multi-pronged approach is needed to prevent
youths from even considering entry into a life of crime.

That means putting more money and resources into programs that offer
youngsters a healthy alternative and a positive future. This includes
recreation programs and facilities, and intervention programs that
provide positive role models for youths. We need to provide
interaction between youths and adults, including authorities such as
police officers.

This takes a commitment from government as well as ordinary people
such as you and me. This is why I plan to join the Big Brothers
movement, and suggest that you consider doing the same or similar.

I might not have the swankest house or drive a fancy SUV, but I think
I'm an alright guy who can share a good time with a little bloke, and
give him something other than a game of "Grand Theft Auto" on his
computer to occupy his time with. I can help him with his reading
skills or take him to a game or show, or to boxing or music lessons,
or for a walk or bike ride in the park - whatever his interests might
be I can help him pursue them.

This is not to imply that all kids from single-parent homes are
destined to a life of crime, or that the criminal lifestyle doesn't
attract kids from solid, two-parent families.

But if each one of us contributes something positive to the kids in
our community, perhaps we can chart the way to a future that values
humanity and respect for each other.