CREATIVE SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO HALT GANG WAR

A new opinion poll shows that Metro Vancouver residents 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 were 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 than liberalization of U.S. drug laws.

This province purportedly produces about $3 billion a year of BC Bud
and likely only consumes a fraction of that. 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 smugglers right next to the Aldergrove-Lynden border station.

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 the hefty profit out
of the illegal businesses operated by the criminal organizations 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 also
require creative thinking.

Remember that infamous gangster Al Capone was impervious to the best
efforts of police 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 his
conviction, he would have lived all his life a free man.

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, including 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 swankiest house or drive a fancy SUV but I think
I'm an okay guy who can share a good time with a little bloke and give
him something other than a game of Grand Theft Auto to occupy his
time. 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.

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
all.

Kurt Langmann is editor of The Aldergrove Star, a Black Press sister
paper of The Tri-City News.