:{ All one can say is "I hope these gangsters sort it out soon!" Once the dispute is over and there is only one gang left there will be no more need to kill anyone. *Rolling Eyes It truly shocks me though that this sort of thing actually exists here. I mean shackled and beaten! OMG! The best case senario is that the Law wins out over all and peace can finally come back into PG. I suppose that there will always be another bad guy willing to fill those shoes though. *Shaking head!

I barely feel safe walking downtown as it is but apparently I shouldn't be concerned about the gang bangers who want to shoot each other, as of course they all are excellent marksman and will not hurt one of us poor citizens. I haven't gone back to Moxies since the shooting there either.

187 on a undercover cop

Far better chance of being killed driving on the highway than by a stray bullet. There's no shortage of idiots on this planet, any of who can prove fatal.

Why can't we arrange a shootout? Take them all to an empty field and hope they cancel each other completely. No medical assistance nearby, just a grave digger.

As a 'normal' person, I do feel relatively safe in the downtown. Not comfortable, and definately on my guard but I'm not a threat or a target. Fear can be a great crippler and I'm not willing to give that much power to the bullies.

If you suspect a shooting going down, get ready to stop, drop, and roll, even then the drooling losers will probably still manage to wing you with a stray bullet. Bring back corporal punishment. Swift justice for these crimes, with harsh penalties, would be appreciated by most of us.
metalman.

hoobangin: I don't understand your comment.

I agree with Kevin1006, legalizing drugs would go a long way in eliminating many of the issues in the downtown area. True the gang bangers will find other reasons to fight among themselves, but the problem would likely move out of the downtown area. Many other social issues could be solved with the legalization of drugs. Not the least of which would be that the police are freed up to deal with other serious crime. There were a couple of sarcastic comments about Kevin1006 suggestion. Before criticizing this opinion, I encourage readers to go to the LEAP website
(www.leap.cc) and explore these other options offered by law enforcement officers. These people have a lot of experience to draw on, and they believe legalization would work.

hoob, are you saying the vic was a narc?

I think Kevin1006 and Peace country woman skipped shool too much to do drugs because they missed the part where they teach you that your not suppost to do them in the first place. People cant control themselves with legal drugs like alcohol and nicotine in the first place so bringing more legal substances on the market wont help.

Nature abhors a vacuum. If there is demand for a product, someone will supply it & no amount of prohibition will stop them.

Also, plenty of people can & do "control" themselves.

Posted by: hoobangin on August 7 2008 1:44 PM
187 on a undercover cop
---------------------------------------
Posted by: Death to Socialism on August 7 2008 2:24 PM
hoob, are you saying the vic was a narc?
----------------------------------------

Sounds like it Death.

"187 is the California Penal Code section that defines murder. It has come into general use among gangs in the United States as a synonym for murder."

Legalizing drugs is a ludacris idea. Then I guess we better legalize the slave trade too because gangs use it as a source of income and fight over control. Where does it end. They will always find something and someone to exploit. The only solution is getting rid of them. How about all the US drug addicts that will claim political asylum from the US as the US "unreasonably restricts their rights to drugs." Canada will become a cesspool of undesireables. It seems like a good idea but I think that if you think about it will not solve the problems and will cause a whole bunch of new problems. The only upsides are tax revenue and reduced enforcement. The problems is that the same arguement could be used to argue for the decriminalization of any activity. Its not a good arguement. The only thing that we should decriminailze is gangsters killing gangsters. That will really help clean up the root problem. If they kill an innocent person in the crossfire they get the chair, otherwise we wont even pretend we care anymore. Everyone wins.

lol....lol....northman you crack me up...I don't do drugs, myself. I am well educated, and never skipped school. I do notice you do not know how to spell school.
Did you open your mind far enough to go to the LEAP site, and take an objective look at what they have to say?

Born in BC....did you go to the LEAP site to
see what they have to say, and who they are, before you decided this is not a good argument?

Peace Country Woman
It may be those that oppose legalization have something to lose if it were to become reality.

Peace Country Woman...Huked On Foniks Wurkt Fur Me.. Spell check that one! ;)
To add to lostfaiths last post.. Ive had to supervise people who are already doing pot and drinking in sawmill and forestry operations.. These dicks couldnt drive a sharp stick through a warm pile of shit because they are too messed up or hung over. They jeoprdize the safety and productivity of an operation because their mind is somewhere else..The only thing legalization would do is give addicts and excuse to stay shit faced 24-7, While our health care costs go through the roof because of the treatment they would need.

Use your heads - the vic couldn't be a narc - not when he is only 19!!

lol... schwing!

Obviously what the poster was trying to suggest, mom, no need to get 'em in a bunch.

Hopefully this doesn't drive up prices.

Funny we have not heard from our Local MLA's and MP'S?

Evening news(CKPG) showed our Mayor and he sounded like things are getting done.

I think it was the Lady that looks after our downtown revitalization indicated it's not all that bad....did i hear that wrong?

Hey northman: Profanity denotes a lack of command of the English language. Say it aint so! Say you can talk good English.

I know I shouldn't comment on anything I haven't read or the responces to date, but what first comes to mind is that the RCMP are always TOO BUSY CATCHING SPEEDERS ON THE HIGHWAY rather than looking after more important things like organized crime. REMEMBER! THERE IS NO MONEY FROM CROOKS! JUST FROM THE GENERAL WORKING PERSON WHO ALSO PAY TAXES!

Sorry, I don't usually use capitals letters but ???????????????

It was stated that there is no money to fight white collar crime. Betcha that goes for organized crime too. Motorists are a cash cow or a moving ATM fer them. Take our dough. No resistance. Besides, I don't have much respect for the RCMP. They associate with other officers who kill people and are not held accountable like you and me. Maybe they all got the number 007 in front of their badge numbers recently. Could happen.

Harbinger. Right ol chap i can speak outstanding english if i do say so myslef.Perhaps a greeting in Italian if your interested?

Buonasera Harbinger Come stai Io mi chiamo Filippo northman. Buonanotte! Ciao!

There seems to be a lot more sarcasm and tongue and cheek suggestions here than helpful suggestions. I for one dont favour legalizing drugs as a crime fighting measure. Obviously it is a cop out. It has rightly been pointed out that there are other illegal money sources for gangs that we would never want to legalize. Basically organized crime thrives where ever there is a market for their activities and an absence of legal where withall to control them. These days we have the technological and probably the practical means required to control drug and gang crime. However we lack the will (political i suppose) to do so. We do not enforce drug crimes as we could because it is a waste of time given the weak sentences such crimes earn. It cost more money and takes more police time raiding, trying and convicting the people involved in a grow op than it is worth given the fact that those convicted will serve little or no time. When you can rack up 79 convictions and still be on the street there must be something wrong. I think it is time we faced it and stopped joking about it. Write a letter to your MP instead.
I am, by the way quite familiar with the arguements in favour of legalizing pot. I just dont think they have anything to do with the real issue. It isnt dealing with people who are flouting the law, to the point of rediculous drive by shootings. If it isnt over pot profits it will be over hard drugs, or prostitution, or kiddie porn or stolen car rings, or what have you. If i go into the hospital with cancer, it wont make me healthy if the BCMA decide cancer is no longer a disease.;

Hi Peace Country Woman

I too could direct you to some site to make my argument for me, but I choose to do my thinking myself. Do you have an counter point for my argument or not?

Oh and yes lostfaith, everyone who opposes legalization is a drug dealer. Brilliant comment.

I am sure there are some very good arguments re: legalizing drugs. But wait, there is a significant underground trade in drugs that are already legal, they are called pharmaceuticals.

Do you people seriously want to legalize crack? I guess why not? Suicide is legal anyway!

Well said caranmacil. We have throw the dealers in jail with NO chance of parole. most of them have committed murder on some poor addicted souls with the sale of these products.

With our current laws, we are violating their rights!

Don't blame the judges, their job is to interpret the law. Blame our weak kneed politicians that are supposed to be making the laws to protect law abiding citizens and make our country safe to live in.

Try drug dealing or possessing drugs in Thailand. they get jail forever with one pathetic meal a day! We wouldn't be able to eat it until starvation started to set in. Sounds appropo to me!

Start going after our politicians!

I agree legalizing drugs is not the anwser,Capital punishment should be brought back in . But as a civilized community we should organise a vigilante group and run gangs outta TOWN. Right now before more gangs come in. Diablos are arch enemys of the Hells Angels , they will come in next to corner all trades then we'll be duckin more bullets.

Born in BC writes..."Oh and yes lostfaith, everyone who opposes legalization is a drug dealer. Brilliant comment."

You are even more brilliant than I BC, as you seem to have added words to my post that aren't there. You a politician are you? Perhaps a drug dealer?

Maybe reread what I wrote and see if there isn't some other meaning to what I wrote other than your wacko interpretation of it.
Then I will accept your apology. :-)))

I wrote..."Peace Country Woman
It may be those that oppose legalization have something to lose if it were to become reality."

BC do you see anywhere there that I wrote..."everyone who opposes legalization is a drug dealer."?????

Come on dude or dudette get with the program.

Posted by: mommy on August 7 2008 5:32 PM
Use your heads - the vic couldn't be a narc - not when he is only 19!!

Alrighty then. Time to wake up and smell the bacon.

Born in BC also seems to think that murder rather than legalizing drugs is a better option. Hmmm very strange.

I'd like to comment that I did not see one city council member, never mind our mayor, out and about downtown PG today. Interesting... I caught a clip of the mayor's CKPG interview on the web tonight, and I'm really hoping he had a lot more to say than what was on that clip. Cracking down on the plumbing and electrical violations on suspected drug houses???
That is his answer? This issue has become a lot bigger than downtown revitalization, it is a public safety issue now. If drug dealers/gang members are going to shoot at each other at 2am, most of us might not really care too much. But the middle of the afternoon is a different story. I guess Colin just needs to make it through November.

wow, so now the cops are saying there's nothing to worry about because these shootings are "targeted" between gang members??? So the next time a shootout erupts in the parking lot my kids and I should just wait for it to blow over then tiptoe between the bodies because the cops are too busy sippin ice caps? I'm speechless.

I remember when I was younger I saw TV commercials that had propaganda targeted at the younger generations encouraging them to not join gangs in the first place. The advertising would focus on alternate activities other then joining gangs. Not anti gang, just offering choices. The theory was to reach the kids before the gangs do and give them something else to do. The gangs would then look for new recruits and not finding them would move on. Simple fix. I do not know if it had an effect but it does make sence.

Could work here. Perhaps CKPG should get into the spirit and do focuses on other Stuff for the younger people to do... Even volunteerism. Give organizations like Cadets and Scouts and all the other "kid things" way cool deals on advertising and proote them in the news many times. Kids need activities, limits. Thats why gangs are growing as they provide a measure of that. The kids might not know of the other things in the community or they are given a distorted image of the groups.

We have so many free and low cost youth activities; volunteering brings on it's own reward for all involved. Society as a whole does need some serious counseling, the older generations are already screwed up with major work needed to fix.

Perhaps in our youth (*presently it is a small number of them making a big noise, same in any population) perhaps we can fix the problem before it gets way later.

Have a great day!

I remember when I was younger I saw TV commercials that had propaganda targeted at the younger generations encouraging them to not join gangs in the first place. The advertising would focus on alternate activities other then joining gangs. Not anti gang, just offering choices. The theory was to reach the kids before the gangs do and give them something else to do. The gangs would then look for new recruits and not finding them would move on. Simple fix. I do not know if it had an effect but it does make sence.

Could work here. Perhaps CKPG should get into the spirit and do focuses on other Stuff for the younger people to do... Even volunteerism. Give organizations like Cadets and Scouts and all the other "kid things" way cool deals on advertising and proote them in the news many times. Kids need activities, limits. Thats why gangs are growing as they provide a measure of that. The kids might not know of the other things in the community or they are given a distorted image of the groups.

We have so many free and low cost youth activities; volunteering brings on it's own reward for all involved. Society as a whole does need some serious counseling, the older generations are already screwed up with major work needed to fix.

Perhaps in our youth (*presently it is a small number of them making a big noise, same in any population) perhaps we can fix the problem before it gets way later.

Have a great day!

Finally someone has said something of interest on this topic. I agree totally with meinbcbud. Knowledge and awareness is crutial. I also think that this should be brought into the schools, on a regular basis. Having spoke people come to the schools and talk about gangs, drugs, sex, etc. would be benefial. They need to make an impact on these kids at an early age so there is good awareness before they reach thier teens. Young minds are impressionable either way. It is time to start helping our kids make good choices. Many rehab centers offer drug awareness seminars. Why not bring these seminars into our local schools ?. Better yet ..why not have this also available to parents of young kids..within the schools as well. Parents need to seek knowledge themselves to understand drugs, and gang activity. Seems everyone is so busy trying to keep up with the 'Jones' they are missing dangerous tell tale signs that thier kids are in trouble. Then saying 'I dont understand how this happened'.

I have something else to add. Why dont schools offer a mandatory class for kids in grades 6-9 that pertains to eduacating them on life living skills-A mandatory part of thier education that better educates kids on life after school. It would teach kids to make choices in respect to finances, sex, drugs, alcohol, employment, gangs, etc. It certainly would better prepare them for thier futures.
When I reached high school we had sewing, mechanics, wood working, etc. A small talk on sex education etc. Times have changed and todays society demands, better knowledge for our kids.

Take the kids on field trips to the detox center, prison, morgue, downtown streets. Show them the consequences of being involved in such activities. Scare the hell out of them. Perhaps if they see what will happen to them if they partake - before they are corrupted - it might make a difference.

Justamom for all those sort of things you want in the school you can approach your school PAC to arrange and have various evening presentations to the parents. Usually it isn't done because of a perceived lack of desire of the parents to participate.

Pac is a good idea. I think I will do just that !..thank you.

""People should not feel unsafe as these incidents of violence are occurring with individuals who are related to gangs.""

People do feel unsafe when there is shooting. It seems that RCMP is scared to deal with these gangsters. Controling drugs in a small town as PG is much easier than in a bigger city like Vancouver.

Replace the head of RCMP in PG and bring a new marshal to deal with the gangs.

All though I have no respect for the RCMP any longer due to some very questionable tactics I have personally seen them use. People need to remember that they are there to enforce existing laws. Some people seem to think they can arrest whomever they like and get them into court and have the key thrown away. People need to remember there are only a limited number of things the RCMP can do to get the scum off our streets. It actually takes the politicians to change the laws to make all our wishes regarding these scumbags come true.
Don't hold your breathe.
Crime is a cash cow for our lawyers and our politicians.