We are living in very troubled times.
In case you haven’t noticed, guns are just as much of a problem in Canada as they are in the United States.
Shootings have been occurring all too frequently in recent years on the Lower Mainland and the situation only seems to be getting worse. It’s also spilled over onto the Island, including incidents in Campbell River, Courtenay and Nanaimo.
It’s almost as if the criminals are all trying to outdo each other. Someone commits an offense somewhere and someone else has to do the same in another location.
Societal problems are clearly out of control. We’re paying the price now for so much inaction over the years, with the failings of the justice system creating a criminal element that clearly doesn’t care about getting caught or winding up in court because the sentences are far too lenient.
It’s going to take an inordinate amount of work now to make up for lost time. We all know the fentanyl crisis and drug overdoses are contributing not to just mental health issues, but a serious escalation in criminal activity.
Both the federal and provincial governments within Canada claim they’re doing this and doing that to correct these situations, but is it even making a dent so we can say some progress is being made? Clearly, the answer is no.
You can argue gun laws both for and against until you’re blue in the face and get absolutely nowhere. In Canada, gang violence has gone way beyond being an occasional issue. It’s an ongoing fiasco and obviously not enough is being done to take these violent offenders off the street.
You have to wonder about the mindset of these individuals. What do they think they’re gaining, taking out these opposing rivals? Inevitably, it’s more than likely going to lead to their own demise with innocent everyday residents getting caught in the crossfire more often.
These people seem to have a hard time deciphering the real world from some Bugs Bunny cartoon or a video game. When you fall off a cliff or get shot, you don’t simply bounce back.
We don’t need more consultations and long-winded seminars to try and find solutions. Like fighting inflation, it’s going to take strong measures.