I'm not surprised.

I am so happy to see that the Opinion 250 page is not littered with pictures of this latest victim of violence in our community. I was totally appalled and sickened when I looked at the Citizen this morning to see a photo of this man dead in the street. I can't believe that these people can actually sleep at night after publishing that photo. No matter who or what this young man was, he has family I'm sure that cared about him and I don't think they want to see how and where he died. According to the news at noon the family hasn't even been notified yet, but its quite likely that someone has seen that photo in this mornings paper. He was definately recognizable. I don't think that this type of reporting is acceptable or necessary.

The Citizen has been more and more been turning to a tabloid style of journalism. IMO this is because people are turning to the internet for news across North America.One only has to look at the declining sales of newsprint also the largest producer of newsprint- Abitibi Bowater - is currently under bankruptcy protection to see this trend.

I guess they figure if they put a picture like the one on today's front page that they will sell a few more papers.

For the time being I will keep my subscription, but as soon as I see Elvis and UFO sighting headlines - that's it.

I have no problem with gang members killing each other.
I think it's a great way of getting rid of criminals.

Totally agree Snappi. It is disgusting. Despite what he had done, he still has parents and other family members that shouldn't see terrible pictures like that of their son.
HD...you're just as bad as the Citizen. Have some consideration for the family and keep those thoughts to your self.

I don't completly agree with the picture, however, we have so many young people that think getting into this sort of life style is alright and that they are invincable, and I think that picture shows them that they are not!! no one is when they decide that is the life style for them.

With that being said I do feel for his family and friends that have to see that!!

How come the Citizen published the story on Saturday that two people were in custody, then changed the story when they found out they were wrong but of course not saying it was them that screwed up.

I notice 250 got the facts right.

The picture in the paper was shocking.....I hope enough that it'll make others think twice about getting involved with gang members. How many times do we see parents on the news warning other parents/kids about what can happen if you do....whatever. It's because they don't want another family to go through the same pain and loss. If this photo saves just one kid then this family will probably be happy that something positive could come out of this tragedy.

PG is so small that almost everyone knows, or went to school with, or has met someone with gang ties......kids don't realize that just hanging out with ol' Dennis, or Brad, or Tammi, or Jon can put them in the middle of some serious sh*t!

Ordinarily I would be somewhat offended by the picture of the dead body on the front page of the Citizen.
Not this time.
Hiding something or worse yet being politically correct doesn't hide the fact that these gangs are violent.
Perhaps the picture is a dose of reality for those on the edge of the life in a gang.
If you don't believe that "If you play with the bull you may get the horn" then here is a dose of reality.
And to those citizens who witnessed the shooting and didn't say anything, well all I have to say is.
What if that was your child or friend?
If it is not your problem, whose is it?

I don't see a problem with posting that picture. Once he is identified they ahould post his face too. The family may be hurt - awww. The family also has to realize that the general public DESPISES gang members. In fact, I would bet that a higher percentage of the population would wish a gang member dead than was bothered to vote in the last election. Everybody hides behind political correctness - it is the tiniest of a fraction of the population that misses a dead gang banger.
seriously family and friends if you want sympathy its between two other "S" words in the dictionary.

Oh, how callous and insensitive we can become. It's a tragedy non-the-less.

Someone's son, someone's brother, someone's grandson was executed in a barbaric way. What a waste of a human life. One bad decision, one attempt to belong to something, to fit in, to be accepted, to be important, to be acknowledged, to be a part of a gang, or a family, or a club. What's the difference? We all have the same needs. Don't we? Some choices have more long term consequences than others.

I found the picture in the paper offensive. It wasn't teaching anyone a lesson, only giving those responsible a way to be proud of their achievements. I feel that the more these things are downplayed, the less egos are stroked. (Don't fool around with us, or these are the consequences)You can just imagine whoever was responsible bragging about their latest achievement. There is no real satisfaction unless you can brag about your successes. Front page news does just that.

Lots of different views on the subject.

Lets go back to the Iraq war, and remember when the Americans bombed Baghdad with their **SHOCK AND AWE** campaign.

Seems to me there were 60,000 more or less women and children killed, and we watched it all on TV like it was a fireworks exibition.

I could be wrong but I smell a double standard here.

If this lad was a (Ganster wanna be) then i won't shed a tear! Post pictures ..Pics say a thousand words ...by doing so it may just save some young kid from joining... Sooner we purge these losers the better..

I can't honestly believe what I'm reading here..oh my God! I can't believe that so many people can be so cold an unfeeling, especially concerning his family members that loved him. I agree with you Chester, well said. I don't think anyone would feel this way if it was their family member laying in the street..My heart goes out to the family of this young man.

And by the way, I won't be buying any Citizen newspapers in the near future.

Palopu it is estimated that over 1 million people disappeared during Hussains dictoral rule.

Hey bottom feeders that picture, there is your future.

I think we need to look at the reasons that so many young people these days are getting involved with these gangs in the first place.

Why does becoming a gangster seem like a glamorous lifestyle to them???

Drugs, violence, and lack of respect have become common place in our society.

What is the point of it all, and what can we do to stop it???

I think part of the problem is that young people don't feel they fit well in their family units, in their schools, in the community. There seems to be a significant disconnect from a solid foundation. For example, with a busy dual working family how many times a week does a family sit down and have dinner together and talk about their day? Or the expanding population of single parents who are struggling to put food on the table and may not know who their kids are hanging out with.
This is not to diss single parents. I grew up in a single working parent family, one of the "latch key kids"...remember this term? Even though our mother was not home much, she would leave us notes in our lunch kits, at home, telling us she loved us and gave us instructions for chores, what to prep for supper, etc. We knew we were loved even though physically our mom was not in the home a lot.
What am I trying to say here? Be PRESENT with your children. You don't have to be home with them 24/7. As long as they know they have a lifeline to the family home, this will mitigate many problems. Gangsters prey on young people who don't feel they have a supportive family/ home. They lie and promise them protection and a family life. And it turns out to be a life in hell.
A big thumbs up to all the great parents and families...there are a lot of you out there!

sad but laws of the jungle apply to these idiots fast money fast death

I knew of some kids that got involved in gangs... came from good loving families that were well respected in the community. Sometimes even good kids go sideways for a bit... excitement maybe... I sure hope its not one of those kids.

These situations happen because a good guy is in the wrong place, as much as a bad guy over stepped his bounds. I think its open as to what happened here and not worthy of speculation without the facts.

Iraq .... I do not recall pictures of dead people from the war in the local paper. There were certainly such images in some tabloids, especially in Europe. Recall that pictures of draped coffins were not even allowed in the USA for fear that people will turn against the war.

If we publish images of people lying in the streets due to gang violence, how about pictures of suicides. Perhaps the city will learn how many, especially young people, kill themselves each year in PG and the surrounding area.

Or how about publishing some frank pictures of people killed in motor car crashes? A more graphic reminder might cause people to drive a bit more carefully or not drive after drinking.

I see it as a double standard.

I am starting to love political correctness as time goes on. Especially when they use my English language to be most creative. A CBC person describe Pakistan as having an "image deficit". Let me extrapolate on that phrase if I may. As for the pictures on the front page of the Citizen of the deceased individual, my thoughts, (being politically correct) was my thinking that this individual had a "sympathy deficit" with me. People who deal in drugs take advantage of those who lack brains or the where with all to avoid drugs. Drug dealers take advantage of stupid people who should know better but don't or can't. Another PC gem is politicians. The have a "credibility deficit". Make up yer own phrase. Hours of fun. Sympathy is in the dictionary between s--t and syphilis. Look it up.

Interceptor, Harbinger, I think you are both wrong in characterizing empathy or sympathy for the family members as political correctness. Witness my previous comments vis a vi drug dealers, gangs and the like, and you know how I feel about those people.
Why be so callous about the feelings of the deceased's family?
Seems that your tarry brush is taking some broad strokes.
The guy may have been one of the scumbags, and if so, got what he deserved, in my humble opinion. But, if that was my son laying dead in the street, I would not want his picture published on the front page of any newspaper, let alone the crappy Citizen. It would be punishment enough for a law abiding family to know that one of their own was in that gang lifestyle.
metalman.