Pubdate: Thu, 24 Aug 2006
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Sherri Zickefoose

POLICE AFRAID MORE GUNS COMING TO CITY

As organized criminals continue chasing the money trail to affluent
Calgary, authorities are worried the city may also be in danger of
becoming gun-rich.

"People who are engaging in illegal activity rely on intimidation to
be successful through profits. They want to arm themselves," said
Acting Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta of the city police Organized Crime
Operations Centre.

Two out of four shootings erupting on city streets in the last two
weeks have involved drugs and criminal groups from B.C., police say.
Organized criminals are taking advantage of opportunities to use
weapons against their enemies.

"Obviously it causes the police a great deal of concern when they are
wearing bulletproof vests and possessing handguns," said Schiavetta.

Illegal handguns being used by organized criminals are trickling in
from the United States, he said, estimating that one-third come from
break-ins and one-third from across the border, while the remaining
one-third are untraceable.

The easily concealed handguns, usually 9-mm or .40- and .45-calibre,
are most frequently seized from organized criminals, police say.

Though gun offences have remained relatively constant for the past six
years, Calgary's chief of police has voiced concerns about street
shootouts endangering people beyond the criminal ranks.

Innocent adult bystanders or children getting hit by bullets intended
for gang members is always one of the greatest fears, Chief Jack
Beaton has told the Herald.

Despite the concern for public safety, police statistics show the
number of knives used in crimes far outweighs the number of offences
involving firearms.

Knife use hovers around 40 per cent, while about half of all attacks
involving weapons are committed with bats, clubs, pipes or bottles.

Gunfire was far more prevalent in late 2002 and early 2003,
when

Calgary was trapped in the middle of a bloody back-and-forth battle
between two gangs.

The gun violence led to the formation of a task force called Project
Synergy in January 2003. It led to the arrest of 114 people believed
responsible for at least 15 violent incidents, including two murders.

So far this year, there have been 120 incidents involving firearms.
Last year, police recorded 236 incidents, which included 34 injuries.

In 2004, the number of firearm offences dipped to 169, with 29 people
injured.

The number was higher in 2003, with 224 gun incidents, which injured
24.

In 2002, there were 165 firearm offences, with 14 people
hurt.

In 2001, 288 firearm offences were recorded. Sixteen people were
injured.

A high point of gun offences occurred in 1997, with 339 incidents.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake