Papers speak out on gangs
Both local papers this morning have editorials on the issue of gangs in Langley.
Over at the Advance, Bob Groeneveld laments the bad press Langley has received from the incident, and encourages "the smart part of this community" to "figure out what to do about it."
At the Times, editor Frank Bucholtz assigns blame to the justice system, and makes three suggestions: "Increase the sentence for anyone convicted of using a gun in a criminal offence." Such a law has been passed in the House but is being held up in the Senate.
He also calls for a stop to plea bargaining that "removes gun-related crimes from guilty pleas." Interesting idea.
As for his final suggestion, I think almost all of us would agree:
Hear, hear!
Over at the Advance, Bob Groeneveld laments the bad press Langley has received from the incident, and encourages "the smart part of this community" to "figure out what to do about it."
At the Times, editor Frank Bucholtz assigns blame to the justice system, and makes three suggestions: "Increase the sentence for anyone convicted of using a gun in a criminal offence." Such a law has been passed in the House but is being held up in the Senate.
He also calls for a stop to plea bargaining that "removes gun-related crimes from guilty pleas." Interesting idea.
As for his final suggestion, I think almost all of us would agree:
Parliament needs to strongly consider sending a clear message to judges that violent criminals must spend far more time in jail. Sentencing of those repeatedly involved in violent incidents is a joke, and until criminals get the message that they may well spend 20 years in jail, they have no incentive to change their ways.
Hear, hear!