CPS: "Our worst fear" - innocent bystander shot in the face...

[The Ditch]

Canada needs some sort of modified three strike rule. The one in the US seems a bit flawed but it could potentially work.

[azzarish]

Unfortunately when the city grows at the rate and pace that it is growing are there are always side effects, positive and negative. The population increase will spur violence. It's the same with any other growing city. I mean think about it if there are a 1000 new people coming in to the city every month what are the odds that all 1000 will be safe, law abiding members of the community. Very very low.

Was the intensity of these kind of gun wielding attacks taking place 5-6 years ago? Probably not. Something has changed then right. There are good and bad people everywhere but with a city like Calgary which once had a small town mentality about it and where shootings and innocent bystanders caught in crossfire was literally unheard of and frowned upon, that city doesn't exist anymore. It was prime for indecent people to walk in here and start making a mess of things.

[azzarish]

Unfortunately when the city grows at the rate and pace that it is growing at there are always side effects, positive and negative. The population increase will spur violence. It's the same with any other growing city. I mean think about it if there are a 1000 new people coming in to the city every month what are the odds that all 1000 will be safe, law abiding members of the community. Very very low.

Was the intensity of these kind of gun wielding attacks taking place 5-6 years ago? Probably not. Something has changed then right. There are good and bad people everywhere but with a city like Calgary which once had a small town mentality about it and where shootings and innocent bystanders caught in crossfire was literally unheard of and frowned upon, that city doesn't exist anymore. It was prime for indecent people to walk in here and start making a mess of things.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Wow. I've got to say that I think this is more than just a little bit over dramatic.

Yes Calgary has experienced a pretty sharp increase in gang violence in the last 6 months to a year, but you're making it sound like this is the only place/time in the world this has ever happened.

There have been criminals killing criminals and innocent bystanders pretty much since the dawn of civilization, this isn't a new problem and it isn't one that is ever going to go away.

Moreover, Calgary is nowhere near becoming the armpit of major cities in North America. The only reason this seems so bad is because for a very long time we were very much sheltered from this type of violence. I can guarantee there are A LOT of cities in North America where this string of violence would be a welcomed reduction compared to what they normally see.

That all being said, that doesn't mean something can't be done to try to curb this violence before it gets any worse.

I've already covered the 'dramatic' issue. I'm also already well aware that crime has been taking place since the dawn of civilization, thanks Tips.

My comment, while already me having admitted to it perhaps being a bit dramatic, didn't say Calgary WAS / IS the armpit across North America, it's BECOMING that. Big difference. If crime and violence keep consistently rising in this city the way it has been for the last 24 months, well then, things are going to get ALOT worse for this city before they get better, reputation-wise. And I've been to alot of cities in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. Hell, I've stayed overnight and have been through numerous times the crappiest areas of Los Angeles (Compton, South Central); not many people can say they've done that.

While I don't feel threatened walking around downtown at 2 in the morning, there's many, many out there that would feel unsafe. You do have to be vigilant in this city. For me, I've actually found it more comfortable walking around at night in cities like Manhattan, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Amsterdam or Tokyo at night than I have here. But that's just from personal experience.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I always envisioned that Fotze would be the first member of our little community to be featured on an episode of Cops.

Really? I've always had my money on 4x4. I figured that one day he'd buy a White Bronco and that would be the end of it.

[black rubber disc bunny]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

It would definitely take money out of their pockets, and that's obviously a good thing. If it did drive up the value of cocaine and heroin, well, that's good too. The more it costs, the harder it is to do.

The concern I have with that statement is that this may then cause desperate people to commit more crimes to ensure they can continue using. It's potentially a double edged sword.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by fotze

I know, last night I was at a buddy's just off 17th an we heard a loud bang, then the sirens came and some guy apparently crashed his dumpy mini-vvan into a pole and took off running, cops everywhere. In the span of a few months, a drunk native topless lady passed out on the street in front of my car while I was driving, a guy nearly crashed his car into my house, an arsonist went crazy in my back alley, there were gunshots and a crackhouse bust just blocks away.

Time to move? Holy s*** I would have by now.

[Flames_Gimp]

blind for life...horrible

[Slava]

I guess this belongs here as much as anywhere (I don't think that a separate thread is warranted and this one talks about justice a fair amount).

There was a proposal initiated provincially that would allow police the power to seize a vehicle if the occupants had an unregistered firearm (same as the prostitution law). I think that should come to law. I know that it doesn't solve anything in an of itself, but one more weapon for the police to make life miserable for these thugs is good in my book!

[CaptainCrunch]

I think if the cops find you with a unregistered gun in your possession they should be allowed to empty the ammunition, into your knees. Your not likely to shoot someone if you can't get out of bed in the morning.

It would certainly stop these scumbags from carrying weapons with 9 rounds in the clip.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Slava

I guess this belongs here as much as anywhere (I don't think that a separate thread is warranted and this one talks about justice a fair amount).

There was a proposal initiated provincially that would allow police the power to seize a vehicle if the occupants had an unregistered firearm (same as the prostitution law). I think that should come to law. I know that it doesn't solve anything in an of itself, but one more weapon for the police to make life miserable for these thugs is good in my book!

How about automatic jail time for an unregistered or restricted handgun or assault rifle. I don't think 80 year old farmer joe should be arrested for packing a .22 under the seat of his camper special.

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by Robbob

There needs to be a change in the legislation to help the police. I get the impression that the police know who are in the gangs but can't do anything until they are caught (I understand the shooting downtown was drug related and that individual probably wasn't known by police). I think it is getting to the point where more police officers won't help until there is a fundamental change in how we target and deal with gangs.

Agree, it's not more cops we need its a better justice system.

[The Ditch]

It's not that hard to make your own bullets.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

How about automatic jail time for an unregistered or restricted handgun or assault rifle. I don't think 80 year old farmer joe should be arrested for packing a .22 under the seat of his camper special.

They can seize your car if caught fishing without a license. Seems ridiculous that they can't for driving around with an unregistered firearm.

[4X4]

Surprise!! One of the two guys arrested in that home invasion in Queensland already has charges against him for carrying weapons and assault. Who'da thought?

A guy called in to Rutherford today while he was discussing the topic of the revolving door justice system and the guy suggested that anyone that is under arrest for gun or drug charges should be held without bail until trial. I agree with this.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Barnes

They can seize your car if caught fishing without a license. Seems ridiculous that they can't for driving around with an unregistered firearm.

I'm not suprised, conservation officers seem to have more power than they require..

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Surprise!! One of the two guys arrested in that home invasion in Queensland already has charges against him for carrying weapons and assault. Who'da thought?

A guy called in to Rutherford today while he was discussing the topic of the revolving door justice system and the guy suggested that anyone that is under arrest for gun or drug charges should be held without bail until trial. I agree with this.

I was reading on canada.com that this attack wasn't random did Rutherford discuss in further detail what wasn't random about it?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I was reading on canada.com that this attack wasn't random did Rutherford discuss in further detail what wasn't random about it?

Probably, but I didn't hear that part. I wish Rome and Rutherford weren't on at the same time...

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Muta

For me, I've actually found it more comfortable walking around at night in cities like Manhattan, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Amsterdam or Tokyo at night than I have here. But that's just from personal experience.

One thing that has a major impact on this is that all of the cities you've named (with the exception of New York) are in far more temperate climate zones which contributes to a much greater 'street culture' - more people walk the streets, period. There are more areas of the city where retail and food outlets allow for people to congregate in numbers and engage in social activities. And New York, for obvious reasons, has some of the greatest street culture in the world.

This doesn't really happen in Calgary. Climate is a huge reason for this - most of the year it's just too damn cold for there to be any kind of street culture, as a result we built the plus-15 system, which has negatively impacted the potential for growth in this area. Why would anyone use the streets when the system is so much easier? No traffic lights, no weather to deal with.

Another issue is the sprawl of Calgary. Compared to the other cities on your list, very few people live in any kind of high-density housing here. The geography of Calgary contributes to sprawling suburbs with large big-box retail outlets instead of compacted urban areas with mixed-use buildings.

The end result of this is that significantly fewer 'citizens' will be out wandering the streets at night. Compared to those other cities, streets in Calgary are practically deserted after dark, unless you're on 17th or in Kensington, or around one of the clusters of nightclubs, like on 10th avenue. So who ends up being on the streets? Those with nowhere else to be - this, I think, contributes far more to any perceived sense of danger on the streets of Calgary than the actual risk of violent crime.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I was reading on canada.com that this attack wasn't random did Rutherford discuss in further detail what wasn't random about it?

You'd be surprised how much of an underworld that Queensland/Deer Run area has.