Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jan 2006
Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317
Author: Chris Simon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

GUNS, DRUGS AND VIOLENCE CONCERN TOP COP

Police Chief Wayne Frechette Said Incidents of All of These Are
Increasing in Barrie

Guns, drugs and violence.

Those are some of the main issues Barrie police Chief Wayne Frechette
said are increasing within the city. There were five shootings in
Barrie last year. One of the shootings resulted in the death of
40-year-old April Lynn Dobson in October.

The incident was the first gun-related homicide in the city during the
last 10 years.

However, the other four shootings were directly related to drug
activity, Frechette said.

"Where you have drug dealers, you will have handguns. It's one of the
tools of their trade," he said, noting Toronto's close proximity as a
reason for the increase in shootings.

There were no charges laid for use of a firearm in an offence in 2004,
while one charge was laid in 2003. Drug activity, violence and
mischief in the downtown core are also issues of concern to city police.

"We have had a lot of trouble in the downtown core over the years.
We're getting on top of it now, but it's not an overnight thing,"
Frechette said. "We are certainly moving in the direction of increased
peace and good government downtown."

Each Barrie officer currently responds to an average of 62 criminal
code violations each year, which is more than the Canadian average, he
said.

Frechette discussed his concerns with Barrie Conservative party
candidate Patrick Brown and federal justice critic Vic Toews during a
meeting at city police headquarters on Sperling Drive Friday morning.

Brown said the Conservatives would reduce crime by hiring 1,059 new
RCMP officers, work with municipalities and provinces to hire 2,500
more police and arming border patrol officers to reduce the flow of
illegal weapons into Canada if elected to form the next government
Jan. 23.

"(Conservative leader Stephen) Harper made his policy announcements on
law and order (Thursday)," Brown told Frechette. "He mentioned a few
things that I think will help in Barrie and around the country."

And the party would also increase minimum sentences for people
convicted of firearms offences, said Toews.

"When it comes to the use of firearms, many of the existing minimums,
we're upping them. The ones that are presently at a one-year minimum,
we're upping them to five. The existing four-year minimums, we're
upping them to 10," he said. "Generally speaking, we're at least
doubling them."

Frechette also recommended several changes to the justice system.
People accused of handgun offences should be prevented from obtaining
bail, while convicted offenders should be forced to earn parole and
probation by changing their lifestyle through increased education,
Frechette said.

"Earning as opposed to, it's my God given right," he said.
"Rehabilitation, I won't say it's a pipe dream, but it's vastly
overemphasized in the sentencing system."

The Liberals plan to immediately ban handguns if they form the next
federal government. The ban would be done through an amendment in the
criminal code for which provinces and territories can choose to opt
in. The handgun ban will go hand in hand with an amnesty and buy-back
program to collect existing handguns, as well as a national
Gunstoppers Program to provide financial rewards for information
leading to removing illegal guns from our city streets.

The Liberals also promise to toughen penalties to crack down on gun
crime and gang violence, including doubling mandatory minimum
sentences for key gun crimes. They also introduced a $50 million Gun
Violence and Gangs Prevention Fund that would support organizations
and governments working to reduce gun violence and gang activity
through diversionary and skills development programs targeted to youth
at risk.

The Conservatives promise to introduce mandatory minimum prison
sentences of five or 10 years for major firearms offences, including
five years for possession of a loaded restricted or prohibited weapon
such as a handgun, and changes to bail and parole policies. Filling
more than 1,000 unfilled RCMP positions and working with provinces and
municipalities to hire at least 2,500 more police officers across the
country, cracking down on firearms smuggling and toughen security at
Canada's border crossings would also be instituted.

They have also promised a five-year, $50 million funding package for
programs that promote crime prevention and assist youth at risk.

NDP leader Jack Layton outlined several policies for reducing crime
Friday, including a four-year minimum sentence for illegal possession
and sale of restricted weapons such as handguns and automatics.

The proposal also includes stopping the illegal importation of guns
from the United States with a four-year minimum sentence for importing
illegal guns, toughening border controls including arming customs
officers, support for reverse-onus legislation for bail on all
gun-related crimes, ensuring bail conditions are strictly adhered to,
improvements to witness protection programs and changes to young
offender legislation that would allow people 16 and over charged with
gun offences to be tried as adults.

The Green Party has proposed several changes to the current Canadian
justice system including actively promoting the use of restorative
justice, rather than prison, for first-time non-violent offenders,
decriminalizing non-compliance and eliminating national firearms
registration fees for firearms designed specifically for hunting.

They would also strengthen measures to combat gun smuggling and the
possession of banned weapons, upgrade penalties for people convicted
of a firearm offence, regulate marijuana under federal legislation as
a product similar to alcohol and tobacco, support the consolidation of
animal cruelty offences, with an increase of maximum penalties if elected. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake