Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 Source: Brampton Guardian (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Brampton Guardian Contact: http://www.thebramptonguardian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1485 Author: Vincent Last THE YEAR OF THE GUN IN TORONTO The year 2005 in Toronto can best be described as the year of the gun. There were 52 gun related killings in the city. Toronto has had its share of tragic events with SARS and most recently Legionnaire's disease. Instead of Toronto the good, it is Toronto the bad. Something must be done to stop the gun violence in Toronto. I believe the blame must be placed squarely on the Politicians. They have sat by idly while thugs and killers roam the streets at will. It is time for them to wake up. After each shooting political figures emerge before the media expressing their outrage and promising they will catch the culprits and punish them. However this is posturing at its worse. Unless a commitment is made there are only promises and hopes but no plans. These are gang related shootings over drugs and turf warfare. People involved are young, between 17 and 25 years of age. The fastest way to stop the gang activity is for the police to stop the drug trafficking. Police must come down hard on the offenders. If they cut off the gangs resources, they can no longer exist. Crown Attorneys and Judges must enforce the laws and there must be no bail granted. Meanwhile the killing continues even into the year 2006. Vincent Last Brampton - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin