Calgary-5 shootings in 1 Weekend

[Scrambler]

This is the Calgary I remember and miss from time to time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA5VnKimBRs

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

This is the Calgary I remember and miss from time to time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA5VnKimBRs

Now THAT was a City you could be proud off. The early 90's were a hell of a time to live in Calgary.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Maybe I havn't lived in Van long enough, but those things you state are exactly why I think it's safer for the average person.
All of those examples are predictable and avoidable.

The Chinese restuarant that you mentioned was a targeted hit of known gang members at 4am on a Wednesday morning at a restaurant that you need to be buzzed into to get inside.
You can't get much more avoidable then that.
Certain areas and certain clubs that are known for violence are easily avoidable too.

In Calgary, this stuff is happening in areas like McKenczie where anyone could be there. The kid in Queensland who was killed could have been anyone of the hundreads of kids who were there.

I guess my point is, Vancouver may not be less violent, but I feel further removed from it here than I did when I lived in Calgary, where every teenager in a Honda would stare me down like they have an issue.
and I say this just a couple of weeks after there was a shooting 2 blocks from me.

In Van, you learn that staring people down and acting hardcore might just get you killed. In an odd way, I think the large amount of actual gang activity here, keeps the wannabe's and highschool kids in check.

Sounds like to me there's more shootings around you so you've become accustomed to it. They're such a regular occurrence in Vancouver I think it takes something seriously henious to really get a headline on the news. Whereas Global Calgary treats any shooting like a 767 going into the North Tower.

I see a lot of people pining for the good old days of sleepytown Calgary, with thoughts of moving away. It's all personal preference of course, but you gotta remember, small town living entails actually living in a small crappy town. I've lived in Calgary since 1980 and remember how painful it was sometimes with zero cultural scene. When good food was defined by Ponderosa and Vlasic steak and pizza.

I don't see it as a detioration of Calgary thing, so much as a deterioration of society thing. Take a trip to Medicine Hat / Regina / Grande Prairie and tell me it's all sunshine and roses there.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Now THAT was a City you could be proud off. The early 90's were a hell of a time to live in Calgary.

Those spots were actually from the early 80's -- that Flames thing was shot in the Corral. That damn song will be stuck in my head forever.

[The Unabomber]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Sounds like to me there's more shootings around you so you've become accustomed to it. They're such a regular occurrence in Vancouver I think it takes something seriously henious to really get a headline on the news. Whereas Global Calgary treats any shooting like a 767 going into the North Tower.

I see a lot of people pining for the good old days of sleepytown Calgary, with thoughts of moving away. It's all personal preference of course, but you gotta remember, small town living entails actually living in a small crappy town. I've lived in Calgary since 1980 and remember how painful it was sometimes with zero cultural scene. When good food was defined by Ponderosa and Vlasic steak and pizza.

I don't see it as a detioration of Calgary thing, so much as a deterioration of society thing. Take a trip to Medicine Hat / Regina / Grande Prairie and tell me it's all sunshine and roses there.

Calgary wouldn't be so bad if the infrastructure could keep up, there are too few cops on the street, every road that i turn down has construction, have to bus kids to elementary school.......I think a smaller town would be much nicer to what Calgary has become.

I agree that small towns have problems as well, but the scale of the problems are much different obviously. Transit is screwed here, the school system is lacking along with hospitals, is that the same as in Grande Prarie? I'm not sure as i haven't been there for years but i can't see it being the same.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by The Unabomber

I agree that small towns have problems as well, but the scale of the problems are much different obviously. Transit is screwed here, the school system is lacking along with hospitals, is that the same as in Grande Prarie? I'm not sure as i haven't been there for years but i can't see it being the same.

Yup, it sure is.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Now THAT was a City you could be proud off. The early 90's were a hell of a time to live in Calgary.

you dont remeber the massive wave of youth crime in calgary in the early 90's? people were complaining about the same things, instead of newcomers coming here and committing crimes, it was youth of the city committing the crime....the waits in health care, our crappy school system....

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

you dont remeber the massive wave of youth crime in calgary in the early 90's? people were complaining about the same things, instead of newcomers coming here and committing crimes, it was youth of the city committing the crime....the waits in health care, our crappy school system....

Well it's a good thing that we solved all those problems...

To be honest most of the "things were great __ years ago" talk, is constantly on going. Twenty years from now I am sure we'll be saying, "now 2007, that was prime. Not like now when everything is crap."

[Neeper]

Big city will always have big city crime. But, the good news is that this stuff is usually targeted and almost never random. Except for that string of stabbings where one lady died, which was completely random. That's what scares me. But if gangsters want to shoot each other over what ever stupid dispute they have, just make sure you don't hit any innocent bystanders. How many innocent bystanders have been hurt in the city since violence has gone up?

[housejunk]

While I agree there is definitely a problem with violence, don't let the media blow this stuff out of proportion. I've lived in Vancouver now for the last 7 years.....LOTS OF VIOLENCE AND STABBINGS right? That's what Van's known for....however in my time living here I haven't seen ANY of it....and I live downtown, go out all the time and the "violence" hasn't affected my life in any appreciable measure. I know its disheartening to see that "5 shootings in one weekend" byline.....but has it really affected you? Have you ever really felt that this violence is enough to force you to move out of the city? I don't buy that.....

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by housejunk

While I agree there is definitely a problem with violence, don't let the media blow this stuff out of proportion. I've lived in Vancouver now for the last 7 years.....LOTS OF VIOLENCE AND STABBINGS right? That's what Van's known for....however in my time living here I haven't seen ANY of it....and I live downtown, go out all the time and the "violence" hasn't affected my life in any appreciable measure. I know its disheartening to see that "5 shootings in one weekend" byline.....but has it really affected you? Have you ever really felt that this violence is enough to force you to move out of the city? I don't buy that.....

It effected me. It's not the main reason I left Calgary, but it certainly had an effect.
I had 2 good friends get stabbed when we were in high school(who absolutely were not involved with this sort of stuff), saw plenty of people get jumped and beat up pretty bad, and saw a couple of guys get chopped with machetis(sp?).
That kind of stuff was everywhere when I lived in Calgary. I definately would be concerned if I had teenage boys in Calgary.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Big city will always have big city crime. But, the good news is that this stuff is usually targeted and almost never random. Except for that string of stabbings where one lady died, which was completely random. That's what scares me. But if gangsters want to shoot each other over what ever stupid dispute they have, just make sure you don't hit any innocent bystanders. How many innocent bystanders have been hurt in the city since violence has gone up?

All the victims where homeless...seems like they were targetted.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

It effected me. It's not the main reason I left Calgary, but it certainly had an effect.
I had 2 good friends get stabbed when we were in high school(who absolutely were not involved with this sort of stuff), saw plenty of people get jumped and beat up pretty bad, and saw a couple of guys get chopped with machetis(sp?).
That kind of stuff was everywhere when I lived in Calgary. I definately would be concerned if I had teenage boys in Calgary.

But that is not an accurate description of the everyone in this city, in fact quite the opposite. For instance I've never seen anything like that, and I've lived here my whole life. You're making Calgary out to be a place where a good day is when you come home stab free. It's not that bad, not even close.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by housejunk

While I agree there is definitely a problem with violence, don't let the media blow this stuff out of proportion. I've lived in Vancouver now for the last 7 years.....LOTS OF VIOLENCE AND STABBINGS right? That's what Van's known for....however in my time living here I haven't seen ANY of it....and I live downtown, go out all the time and the "violence" hasn't affected my life in any appreciable measure. I know its disheartening to see that "5 shootings in one weekend" byline.....but has it really affected you? Have you ever really felt that this violence is enough to force you to move out of the city? I don't buy that.....

my experience living in Vancouver is the media now picks it spots because violence is just a daily event, its no longer news worthy like it is in Calgary. Also Vancouver needs to keep a safe image thanks to the large tourism industry and the olympic's coming up.....you usually here about the stuff that happens in the affluent or trendy areas, like the murder and drive shooting that happen a few days apart a few weeks ago in kits.
heck there is a body a day coming to shore either in the strait or the fraser, sometimes its just parts....like the two left feet with shoes that were found in august..

[housejunk]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

It effected me. It's not the main reason I left Calgary, but it certainly had an effect.
I had 2 good friends get stabbed when we were in high school(who absolutely were not involved with this sort of stuff), saw plenty of people get jumped and beat up pretty bad, and saw a couple of guys get chopped with machetis(sp?).
That kind of stuff was everywhere when I lived in Calgary. I definately would be concerned if I had teenage boys in Calgary.

That sounds like more of a problem withyour high school than violence in the community. You've got to ask yourself this question: when you leave the house in the morning, are you REALLY concerned with whether or not a violent act will happen to you? C'mon......I'd wager my left nut that for 99% of Calgarians violence doesn't even cross their mind until they turn on the news. Same goes for Vancouver.

[HelloHockeyFans]

nm

[WinColumn]

I've lived in Calgary my whole life (approx. 30 years). I even went to high school in East Calgary. I currently live in the beltline. I feel completely safe walking alone even at night. I wouldn't walk around everywhere alone, but I feel pretty safe in public places. I've never been mugged or been in a fight in Calgary. The thought of getting shot never enters my mind and I watch the news almost every day. I would say Calgary is a pretty safe place to live.

I've also traveled a fair bit around the world including a fair number of American cities. Calgary is safer than American cities half its size. If you're out and about in Calgary and you feel unsafe, then perhaps some travel will give you some perspective. We are wuss central and still a good place to raise a family.

[housejunk]

Originally Posted by WinColumn

I've lived in Calgary my whole life (approx. 30 years). I even went to high school in East Calgary. I currently live in the beltline. I feel completely safe walking alone even at night. I wouldn't walk around everywhere alone, but I feel pretty safe in public places. I've never been mugged or been in a fight in Calgary. The thought of getting shot never enters my mind and I watch the news almost every day. I would say Calgary is a pretty safe place to live.

I've also traveled a fair bit around the world including a fair number of American cities. Calgary is safer than American cities half its size. If you're out and about in Calgary and you feel unsafe, then perhaps some travel will give you some perspective. We are wuss central and still a good place to raise a family.

Absolutely.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Burninator

But that is not an accurate description of the everyone in this city, in fact quite the opposite. For instance I've never seen anything like that, and I've lived here my whole life. You're making Calgary out to be a place where a good day is when you come home stab free. It's not that bad, not even close.

I never said it descibes everyone. I only described what I've seen and these things weren't uncommon when I was there. Calgary isn't that bad, and I'm not acting like it's Compton. I just think it should be better and the youth in Calgary are largely spoiled morons.