YOUR SPACE:
Boxing Day shooting in Toronto
CBC News Viewpoint | December 2005
 Police cordoned off the site of the shooting, on Yonge Street in the core of Toronto's downtown shopping district.
Det. Sgt. Savas Kyriacou told a news conference that an intense police investigation is underway following the Boxing Day shooting.
Your letters:
If guns are a problem right now in Toronto, then why aren't the police using the gun registry to confiscate all the guns in the area. These guns being used in the shootings are registered aren't they. Oh! That's right, the gun registry program doesn't work. This should prove to the public that our tax dollars are being wasted on keeping records on legal gun users.
I would also like to add that the media should be stressing on the gun registry problems with each gun related story it covers. It's the urban population who forced the gun registry down our throats against the wished of the rural population (who knew better). If the media educates them now, maybe we can finally be rid of this waste of time and money.
—Blair Devolin | North Bay, Ontario
I now live in Holland but used to live in Toronto and am here for the Christmas and New Years holidays. It saddens me to see Canada's largest city slide towards what is considered average for most US cities. The causes are the same: poverty and lack of perspective. Most of the perpetrators are young men on the periphery of mainstream society whose future is marred by the lack of their own work ethic combined with no real chance of entering the job market. Include a ready access to guns and you have instant headlines. If Toronto really intends to change this, it must adopt a multi pronged strategy of sticks and carrots. The carrots should include real jobs and effective societal bonds. The sticks should include stricter gun law enforcement and more responsible parenting.
—Steve Belgraver | The Netherlands
Why is that when it's a 15 year old white girl that gets shot, everyone is up in arms, demanding justice and retribution, yet when it happens at Jane/Finch or Driftwood, it's just "another gang shooting"? No wonder the black community is up in arms.
Having said that, however, it's time to enforce mandatory sentences for gun possession, publish the names of the youths involved - why are they sheltered? And enact longer, stiffer sentences for deaths involving guns.
Poverty is not the cause, it's a society and legal system that think everything can be solved with more programs, more money and the ever famous - create more jobs. If you want to work, there's work available, REGARDLESS of skin colour.
Face up to the fact that we (our politicians) have allowed this to happen. Now it's time to change it.
—Eleanor Speirs | Toronto, Ontario
Paul Martin on more than one occasion stated that he would "stand up for the charter" when commenting on the "Gay Marriage" issue.
Now he is facing the failure of gun control, an ineffective criminal justice system, and now the brutal killing of a beautiful teenager gunned down on Boxing Day. Mr Martin is thusly supporting "reverse onus" legislation. This clearly overrides the charter right to be "presumed innocent until found guilty." I find it remarkable that instead of increasing penalties and enforcement, this PM decides to trample civil liberties. "If you sacrifice liberty for security ultimately you loose both" ...Ben Franlin
—Larry Reich | Wainwright, Alberta
I am in agreement with many of you that the only way to deal with street
gangs in any city is to have swift justice and stiff penalties. The Young
Offenders Act?; abolish it. It's been a problem since it was
implemented. Bet you cannot think of one time where it has not left you
shaking your head in disbelief.
A 17 yr old with a gun knows exactly
what he's doing. Gang members have no morals, no honor and no
conscience. They are soul-less cowards who belong to gangs in the first
place because they are cowardly. They have no regard for life at all, so
let's deal with them on their level.
The police forces in this country
must be able to act, and use appropriate force without fear of reprisal
from the law. The police are the law. Gang members need to fear police
and that is the only thing that will get their attention.
Yes, fear. Not
respect police, because gangs don't know what the word means. If every
time a gang member was caught they were sent away for years in prison,
would you think twice about becoming a "gangsta"? Stop glorifying these
thugs with rap music, x-box games, etc and portray them as they are;
vermin that needs to be removed from the streets.
—K Ward | Alberta
I am in agreement with many of the statements posted here, and in disagreement with some of them as well. More social programs will NOT "fix" the violence problems rampant in so many of our cities. Unfortunately the youth of today have absolutely NO fear of the law, knowing full well that even if they DO get caught, their records will be sealed upon reaching the age of 18.
The youth of today are also either unwilling or unable to accept responsibility for their own actions. When they DO end up in trouble they begin blaming everyone and everything for their troubles never once admitting that it was their own behaviour that got them into trouble in the first place.
The politicians and bleeding hearts only perpetuate this state of denial. It is time to make not only the youth, but citizens in general realize that you alone are responsible for what you do!
—L Noble | Sudbury
I add to the many people who are outraged about the shooting that took place on Boxing Day. I am very upset that it took an innocent life to bring all these thoughts and ideas to the fore-front.
I am a hard working, taxing paying citizen, with two children (boys) I migrated to this country in 1972, worked very hard, my boys are drug free, gun free, good law abiding citizens of this wonderful country.
It angers me when a few people voice their racist opinions about immigrants coming from troubled backgrounds, to them I say with all respect "go back to school and please get educated" it seems as though they are very illiterate and prejudice people, without immigrants there would be no Canada, I am sure they are not North American Indians, who are the "real, true Canadians.
—Bernice | Toronto
I have to admit that when I read the online comments yesterday it really saddened me. We've evolved too much in this city and this country to be moving backwards, and any evidence of it happening really bothers me.
Gun and gang violence in the city has become the problem, not immigration laws. Jamaicans and guns are no more associated with each other than Irish, English and Scottish, people and guns.
I am a resident of the city and hope to be for the rest of my life. Toronto is a role model for the World, take a look at the daily news, we don't have those problems. We need to hang on to and embrace the defining characteristic of our great city, cultural diversity and fight not to lose it.
Please remember that we're all immigrants (minus Aboriginal's) to this country and we've ALL built it together. Generalizing and stereotyping and racial profiling are as evil and as harmful as a gun shot.
—Omar Gandhi | Toronto
Can you believe that one of the thugs from the Boxing Day shootings was charged with ‘discharging a weapon into a crowd.’ His intent was to kill. Lets get the wording right.
All summer, I have been hearing of individuals arrested who were in breach of a probation order not to carry a gun. Drunk drivers are getting stiffer sentences than gun carriers. You have heard of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers). I think we need to form MAPP (Mothers Against Pistol Packers).
—John Vav | Toronto
This is another tragedy in a long list of them. The thugs that perpetrated this crime need to be rounded up and thrown in jail for life and when I say life,that means all of their life.
Three things come to mind as I hear all thrhetoricic about this. The first is that when Paul Martin and others talk about banning all handguns,that simply will do nothing to solve this ongoing problem. It is merely a political ploy that will only cost the taxpayers money. These guns used here are likely illegal anyway.
Secondly,the youth criminal act needs to be amended. This is capital murder and a 17 year old knows right from wrong. Publish the punks name and charge him as an adult.
And third,I agree with some of the others who've written in about being sick and tired of the poverty excuse. Lots of people grew up in poverty with barely a roof over their heads and scrounging for something to cook for dinner and WORKED their way out of it. These bums are just too lazy to go find a real job and work their way up. They are only interested in drug trafficking and easy money. Let's find a way to take the demand away and the supply won't be necessary.
—Ernie Allison | Cranbrook, B.C.
Toronto's murder rate per capita this year is lower than the rate for Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, and London. You're more likely to get murdered in those cities than in Toronto.
It's a terrible, terrible thing that happened but it has to be put into perspective. Overall, the murder rate and gun death rate is down since 1991. What one person said, that Toronto is as bad as any major American city, just isn't true. It isn't even remotely true.
Chicago had its best year in almost 40 years in 2005 - and it had over 400 homicides. Philadelphia, with half Toronto's population, had about 400 as well.
It's no time for complacency, but it's no time for panic, either.
—Graham Broad | London, Ontario
Let's not forget that the vast majority of us in Toronto are part of the largest gang...the gang of people that works, pays taxes, and abides by the laws. We are by far the largest gang in this city, but why are we so immobile?
These little violent gangs know we're not going to retaliate in any meaningful manner. You better believe they're laughing at us right now. It's time to take back our streets, and stop worrying about these gang members problems. Does it look like they're worried about ours.
The time for political correctness is over. We need resolute action. This city our house, and we have the right to decide who our guests will be.
—Chris | Toronto
This story is just a tragedy. It breaks my heart to see an innocent 15-year-old girl loose her life because of these barbaric, no-heart criminals who use guns to solve their problems.
If our judicial system does not change, then I am afraid that gun violence, such as the Boxing Day tragedy will continue in the future and progressively get worse and more innocent bystanders will be the victims.
—Chris Carr
Many are saying "Send these thugs back to their own countries". I would hazard a guess that for most gang members this is their own country. They are the sons of immigrants who came to this country at a time when entry level manufacturing jobs were being out sourced oversees, and who entered the downward spiral of poverty and social breakdown.
Somewhere along the line they ceased caring about who they hurt to get what they wanted. I was born and raised in Toronto. I'm watching my city die. What's the answer? Unlike so many of you who are so sure of your opinions I haven't a clue. Tougher laws won't stop someone who just doesn't give a damn.
—Sam Hurrie | Cumberland, B.C.
These people chose to be in gangs, they chose to carry guns, they chose to quit school so that they’re only qualified for menial jobs and they chose to sell drugs for the easy money.
What seems to be missing in society is simple taking personal responsibility for your own actions and accepting the consequences for them. These people chose to carry guns that day, they chose to use them and the consequences are that the family of Jane Creba has been tragically changed forever because of them.
I will not pretend to know the depths of pain for the Creba family right now, but my heart and prayers are with them during this time.
—Sandra P | Hamilton, Ont.
My heart goes out to the family of the girl that was gunned down, to the families of the young men who did such a thing, and to the City of Toronto, who it seems has grown not only physically into a replica of a large American city, but socially as well.
To someone from the Maritimes, visiting Toronto is like landing on another planet.
Toronto has the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen, the most wondrous combinations of cultures I have ever witnessed, which I personally feel adds character to an already beautiful city.
The shooting which occurred on Boxing Day, is the down side of our world at this time in history. You cannot point a finger at one thing and lay all the blame. Immigration is not solely responsible for this sort of thing nor is it the fault of any one particular race.
We need to demand tougher laws to restrict and control the use and ownership of guns, stiffer prison sentences for drug dealers and changes to the human rights laws that will allow police to do the job they were hired to do.
—Sharon Mitchell | Moonstone, N.B.
The latest senseless violence that has been unleashed on Toronto’s busiest street has once
again allowed the rest of Canada to beat their collectives chests and proclaim that the city streets have been taken over by armed hoodlums that have no concern for human life, be it yours or their own.
Well, I have a message for all you armchair critics that like to dump on Toronto--the streets of the city or town that you reside in mirrors exactly what Toronto is now experiencing. It's just on a smaller scale and seldom makes the 10 o’clock news.
The root causes of the crimes now occurring in Toronto can be better explained by professionals that deal in the study of human nature than I can (explain), but all of the professionals and especially politicians that think this current situation can be dealt with by erecting more gymnasiums, drop-in centres, etc., are dreaming in Technicolor, and should be turfed out of office by the citizenry, a citizenry that knows that the touchy-feely approach to crime and senseless violence has been an abysmal failure.
The days of touchy-feely sentencing and giving gentle slaps to the perpetrators of these crimes have to stop. We have to once again instill in the minds of ALL citizens of this country that serious consequences await anyone that commits or abets in this mindless slaughter of innocent bystanders, all in the misguided mind of some 18- to 20-year-old that thinks he has been disrespected or some gang fighting for control of turf.
It’s time to get back to basics folks—if you do the crime, get ready to do the time.
—Malcolm F. Brown | Porter’s Lake, N.S.
I am a Canadian woman living abroad. My family immigrated from Guyana over 30 years ago and for all of you who feel so comfortable labelling immigrants as criminals, you might be shocked to know that none of us has ever been in jail or on welfare or owned a gun. I've never even seen one.
This is a much more complicated issue than race alone. It most definitely is a factor, but I am disgusted by many of the comments. Amazing how comfortable many of you are at being online bigots. What a pity that I naively tell my friends here what a tolerant place Toronto is.
—Kavita Doodnauth | Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
I'm sick and tired of finger-pointing it's time for people to live up to their responsibilities. Stiffer penalties will make people wake up before they pull the trigger.
Why do the culprits have more rights than the victims? If you take a life, you take away that person's right to live. What does a cold-blooded murderer contribute to society anyways? Nothing! Stop wasting time, money and effort on them.
Drop the age limit and I guarantee some 14-year-old wannabe thug will think twice before squeezing a trigger when he has to face a needle.
I'm aware my comments are crude, but it's time for the good people to start fighting back.
—Greg | Montreal
Fear, sadness and outrage is what our family is feeling over Jane's horrible death. Our prayers go to the family and friends.
Fear to ride a TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) bus, walk to the store or enjoy a night-out. The
'hysteria' that we are all subjected to appears in so many guises: black youth, poverty, gangs, irresponsible parents, lack of social programs, blame on the 'socialists,' immigrants, drug dealers, law enforcement, etc.
Let's not oversimplify that ALL immigrants are offenders and convicts for God's sake. Do more research on this issue before insulting those of us who are professionals and contributing a great deal to this amazing country.
We ALL demand justice and expect to have these INDIVIDUALS pay for their offences.
—C. Munoz | Toronto
The real problem is our so called 'leaders' who don't have the backbone to fix our dysfunctional judicial system and ensure that people are held accountable for their actions.
We already have more than enough laws to control those individuals who don't respect the society they live in. All we have to do is end the self-absorbed hair-splitting gamesmanship that passes for a legal system and ENFORCE these law to their full extent.
—Dan Labonte | Ottawa
I was a friend of Jane's. She went to my school. She was funny, bright and loved sports. Why on our streets should we have to put up with such a reckless act of violence?
It saddens me greatly that I will have to say goodbye to such a good person, someone who should still be on this Earth, someone who would be making people laugh, like she used to. She should still be here, helping out in the school athletics program, like she used to.
She should have come home on that fateful Boxing Day, with bags of new clothes and other Boxing Day specials. Instead, she's dead. The worst thing is that I cannot bring her back, and now people are already bringing this issue to the political table and bringing it into the election.
Let's slow down, stop finding scapegoats, take a big breath and remember Jane for who she was: a young, bright, talented girl, not a political issue. Remember the good things about her, before the politics.
—Adam Elias | Toronto
We must, and I am confident will, turn our revulsion into a positive force that will isolate and ostracize the members of the gangs that are so untypical of this city's population.
The answers aren't solely stricter law enforcement, nor solely more social supports for disadvantaged youth, but both. There must be zero tolerance and severe penalties for gun possession. Greater resources and efforts also must be put into ensuring that young people from visible minorities do not feel shut out of mainstream society.
The young black people from the Toronto Youth Cabinet and other groups who have already spoken out against gang violence are role models who deserve our support. Blaming the entire “black community” for a failed culture is not at all helpful.
Torontonians will get through this crisis with a renewed sense of solidarity. It’s sickening that it took the life of a wonderful and innocent young girl, and the wounding of six others to stir us into action.
—Jordan Grant | Toronto
It seems easy to point the blame at poverty, lack of programs for youth and even standards of living. I have always thought that blame should be directed to the home.
Parents, you wonder how your son or daughter could have been shot, involved in violence or been arrested. Blame yourselves. Why aren't you taking some of the responsibility that's owed to you.
You should know where your kids are, what they are doing and who they are doing it with. People have to step up and take responsibility for their own actions and that of their minor children.
Racism is also not an excuse for violence. Much of the racism these days is perceived by those thought to be hard done by. Easier to blame racism than your lack of initiative.
It sickens me to think that this is what is turning the great city of Toronto into the cesspool that is the USA.
—Heather | Kitchener, Ontario
I agree with the people who are appalled at this senseless violence but it's even more disturbing that instead of looking at the cause and finding a solution, people use it as an excuse to voice their racist opinions.
We don't even know who is responsible for the shooting and people are already making hateful and derogatory comments towards the African population in Canada.
Instead of pointing fingers, regardless of who is involved why isn't anyone, including citizens and politicians alike, interested in finding the cause and solution to the violence?
It sounds more likely most of this violence stems from poverty in the many underprivileged neighborhoods around Toronto and as Kofi Annan said, it breeds despair and terrorism. Increased sentences and tighter gun control are like cutting the leaves off a diseased tree, let's hope people wake up and find the cause of the problem instead of blindly applying bandaid solutions.
—Areeb Yasir | Surrey, B.C.
It is easy to blame immigrants and immigration policies whenever a tragedy like this happen. But the immigrant bashers should also look at where the guns are manufactured, whom the gun smugglers are and who supply the guns to these gangsters etc.
Using social issues as excuse is simply not acceptable. The 15-year old girl didn't have to pay with her life for someone else's social ills.
—Siva Thasan | Toronto
A 15 year old girl murdered and Mayor David Miller STILL doesn't get it! He immediately tries to absolve the criminal animals responsible for the Boxing Day shootings by claiming that we need to spend more on youth and social programs - i.e. it's not their fault. Wrong, Mr Miller.
This all stems from a lack of values within a certain cultural group in our society which glorifies violence, the abuse of women and fathering as many children as possible but taking no responsibility for raising them properly. In other words, a culture where personal accountability has no place.
As has been demonstrated in the US since the sixties, pouring money into left wing social programs does nothing to force these people to take responsibility for themselves and to promote civilized conduct and behaviour. It's time for the bleeding heart liberals (David Miller and his left wing council) to step aside and allow law enforcement to do its job - the same way Rudolph Giuliani cleaned up NYC by allowing the police to acactuallynforce the law.
What a shame. A beautiful city like Toronto, a jewel and envy of all North American cities in the 70's and 80s - now reduced to a ghetto run by thugs and the local politicians who rush to embrace them and their communities every time they kill another innocent bystander.
This is the result of years of political correctness during which critical social issues have been swept under the rug for fear of offending certain groups and the worst is yet to come.
—T. Johnson | Toronto
Sometimes, it is necessary to say it the way it is... and forget political correctness. The comments of B Williams, Red Deer are about the best on this site for he speaks the truth.
Kingston, Jamaica has about 1500 murders a year and the rule of law does not exist. Take a look at what is happening in Toronto. Our immigration policy is hurting us dearly.
The GTA is going to suffer immensely unless things change.
Those who think social and employment programs for these "under privileged" is going to change things are in dreamland.
—Ken Kelly | NB
Since a young girl was killed in Just Deserts by black thugs about 20 year ago, the politicians in city hall and elsewhere tried to hide the face of crime from Canadians. Police are forbidden to collect crime data by race, but people know who the devils are.
Immigration from crime infested countries should be stopped. Welfare payments to single mothers breeding gangsters should be eliminated. These are the root causes, but politicians will look the other way and talk nonsense.
—J. Villa | Toronto
Well you can blame it on guns, and you can blame it on politics and you can blame it on poverty. The real blame lies in our open immigration policy.
We have opened our doors to people who come from countries where crime runs rampant, there is little regard for human life, and tribalism is ingrained into their cultures. What did we expect? Did we expect that our gracious hospitality was going to change all that instantly?
If we want to save our country from more of the same, we must take a close look at out immigration policy. One country isn't going to solve all of the world's problems by opening her arms to anyone who wishes to come here to hide, plan terrorist activities, plot revolutions, traffic drugs and shoot wildly amongst families out spending time together.
—B Williams | Red Deer, Alberta
The growing gun violence in Toronto is a result of a number of factors. The concentration of social housing projects ruled by gangs, little or no opportunities for disenfranchised youth within a variety of ethnic communities and the proliferation of an underground gun culture have all played parts in the recent unfortunate gun related violence.
Politicians have pointed to handgun bans or stiffer sentencing as remedies for this problem but jails full of people of colour in the U.S. has not solved the problem there.
NYC had a growing crime problem until the Mayor unleashed the police in a major crackdown on crime and criminals perhaps it is time Toronto's mayor did the same.
—David Wilkins | Kingston, Ontario
A large percentage of the comments posted so far on this board demand harsher penalties for gun violence such as minimum life sentences. While this may indeed increase our society's general sense of self satisfaction, it will have no effect whatsoever on the frequency of such shootings.
Does anyone really believe some enraged adolescent points a gun at someone and does a mental calculation weighing how much time they will do if apprehended? Criminals do not commit crimes thinking they will be caught, and if anyone believes otherwise, take a look at our neighbour to the south.
The U.S. has much stiffer penalties for crime, and a much higher rate of violence as well. It's not like bringing back the death penalty made the USA any safer.
—Ian Kelk | Toronto
One person murdered, six persons wounded, everyone wringing their hands. When the persons responsible are brought to trial, they will have their hands slapped. You get more time for stealing a loaf of bread to feed your starving kids!
—Ron Murray | Forest, Ontario
All Canadians should be outraged over this latest, blatant disregard for human life and limb in our largest city centre.
Are all young black men armed these days, and ready to kill in order to settle a score? It's certainly starting to seem as if they are.
All the pathetic youth programs and basketball courts in the world won't change things, nor will banning hand-guns.
We need tough laws and harder sentencing to deal with this kind of crime, and judges who aren't afraid to impose real punishment, but unfortunately, any kind of crack-down brings immediate cries of "racism" from certain parts of society.
The Canada that we used to know is now long-gone. What a horrible shame.
—Simon R. Sansom | Chatham, Ontario
I'm tired of hearing criminals excused of their behavior because of poverty. Poverty is a horrible situation however there are countless thousands who have suffered from this plight and have not resorted to the use of fire arms.
As many others I am losing faith in our courts and justice system.
A use of fire arm in a criminal activity should be 25 years in prison with absolutely no parole. When our courts are soft on violent crime they are sending a clear message that life is really not all that valuable.
—Gerry McMillan | Orillia, Ontario
I really feel for the parents and family of the young girl who was killed.
Outlaws in the past used to have a moral code but these young people have none. What kind of idiot would start a gunfight in a busy street? This is a difficult and deep problem that is not easily solved by banning handguns. It is connected with drugs, youth culture, lack of opportunity, poverty and a whole roster of societal ills.
Supports should be put into those communities that need it now, to alleviate some of these problems in the future.
—Deborah Pineau | Toronto
My girlfriend has resolutely refused to move back to Toronto for the last four years, and this would appear to be the final argument. Toronto has lost its reputation as "the city that works" over the last ten years, and has become as violent and dysfunctional as any the large American cities Torontonians used to lovingly hold up in comparison.
Gang violence is increasing in the city, and federal, provincial and municipal government have to make it a priority to develop meaningful youth programs which will keep kids out of gangs.
—Mike Anderson | Toronto
Martin states that the Boxing Day shooting is now the result of "consequences of exclusion". Funny, I thought from his earlier rhetoric that such shootings were the result of registered handgun owners.
Which is it? I'm confused. Help me out Mr. Martin, what's the connection?
—Mark Kalyta
It is heartbreaking to see a 15 year old girl's life ended so senselessly -- a horrific tragedy and waste of life.
Paul Martin wants to ban handguns - why not ban poverty and racism instead? After 10 years of neo-conservative Mike Harris cutbacks and the 12 years of Liberal/Conservative cutbacks and inertia on the federal level, what can you expect?
Youth need conflict resolution skills, leadership skills, mentoring programs and of course JOBS! Jobs that pay real money, not minimum wage starvation rates. Jobs with benefits and a future, not part-time piece-meal exploitation.
—Carol Auld | Toronto
I know we will hear from gun supporters that it is not the guns that kill but the people using them. I believe that handguns have no useful purpose in our society; they are not used for hunting only for killing people.
A total ban on gun ownership (handguns) and minimum life sentences for any crime involving guns and stiff sentences for anyone caught with a handgun will start the process to ending this violence.
We cannot do this in a vacuum however and we have to address the issues faced by poor and hopeless youth.
—John MacArthur | London, Ontario
Scrap the Young Offenders Act or whatever the Politically correct term is now.
Accountability must be put back into society. The maxim should be, "Take heed --you do the deed--you pay the price".Society must stop making excuses for the scum of society who have always been with us and always will be.
Make the result of their acts to the same degree or greater than their transgressions.
—M. Kevin Stanhope | Halifax
When is enough enough? The first shooting should have been enough for Toronto "The Good". Perhaps because the majority of the shootings were happening in areas that didn't concern us, people, including me thought,"well it won't affect me" but that thinking lead us to the ttragedythat befell us on Boxing Day.
When are we going to do something about it? We should, because we care, not because we are afraid, not because we are ashamed, but because we care that our city is now a wwar zonetaken hostage by gang warfare.
Ask yourself, what could I do? And then do it. Especially if it means giving information to those people who needs is most, like the police. Be anonymous! Be active! Care!!
—Eddy | Toronto
I think our politicians have failed us and from the latest rhetoric, I can see no change in the fforeseeablefuture. There are existing laws to control illegal guns. The laws just need to be enforced and our judicial systems needs to give the maximum sentence to remove these thugs from our streets.
I object to Prime Minister Martin's statement that these criminals are marginalized or from broken homes, and the theory that providing more help, more money and more social services will change their behaviour is ludicrous!
We have to start treating them for what they are! Criminals! I know of several young people who come from broken homes, who hold down two jobs, while attending school to enable them to attain a post secondary education. As well, most of our senior citizens are marginalized, but you don't see them getting a gun and shooting people.
It is time we stopped rewarding the guilty and punishing the innocent!
—Isabel Glynn | Toronto
Perhaps this will be a wakeup call for all those people up in arms over Paul Martin's proposition to ban handguns. In case they haven't noticed, handguns are made to KILL PEOPLE.
What will it take for these gun-advocates to care? Their own 15-year-old daughter getting shot dead in the streets? Anyone not willing to give up their gun-fun at shooting ranges in order to secure safer CCanadianstreets should take a one-way trip to the United States where they clearly belong.
—Eleanor Roberts | Kitchener, Ontario
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the slain teenager who are dealing with a loss that is incomprehensible. I also extend my prayers to the injured and those who are traumatized by this senseless tragedy.
It is easy to lash out at the inaction of politicians, the ddisintegrationof family infrastructure, and our own inability to take more positive steps to prevent such tragedies. It is harder to find the means by which to prevent behaviours that have no logic or rationale. People will simply "vote with their feet" and leave those cities where they no longer feel safe.
—Deb Curley | Port Elgin, Ontario
What happened on Boxing Day in Toronto is unspeakable and scary, and somehow we all see this happening more and more.
I agree with some other responders that handgun ban would help, but more so tougher laws. Ten to fifteen-year prison term for possession alone for a handgun, and discharging a firearm in public areas should carry 25 years in prison without parole.
Our politicians have to send a strong message to all who break the law by getting our wonderful country back in order through introduction of smarter and harsher laws.
—Bob Trojnar | Brampton, Ontario
Toronto has a gang problem, not a gun problem. It seems to me its time to arm the honest people, not take away their last means of defense. We can't rely on the authorities to protect everybody, they are spread too thin, and the courts let the bad guys go before the cops finish the paperwork.
—Richard Pope | Richlea, Saskatchewan
This city is now owned by Jamaican drug dealing gangs who are financially supported by many whites who adore cocaine, and a weak mayor and city council who are terrified of the words "Racism" and "profiling." This city is being destroyed by socialists and drug users/sellers.
—Donald Cross | Toronto
I say find the gang bangers that did this, and hang them at the spot this girl was shot.
Gather up all the low life gang members and send them back to their own countries! Why are they here in the first place? Canada should be taking care of their own instead of sending millions of dollars to other countries so they can have a better life.
—Tom Bushey | Chtham, Ontario
It is time for the people who are no longer "interested" in the current political climate to get interested. We need to hold our politicians and our justice system in a new light whereby we get tough with these types of crimes. Canada is becoming a bigger country daily and we will encounter the same problems that other countries have as our cities become larger.
—Jared Christensen
If the economic and political leadership of Toronto had spent more time
caring for its poor, its immigrant populations and providing a better life
for all of its citizens, this might not have happened. Rather, Toronto
decided to imitate the American dream and; there it is folks! Poor people, mainly minorities, warehoused in tenements, with little hope of bettering themselves while the beautiful people spend, spend, spend. This was inevitable, it could be seen coming from the '70s onwards.
—John Doucette
Sadly, we as Canadians are all to blame for this senseless shooting of an innocent young woman in Toronto. We have sat passively as we watched the escalations in youth crime and the violent use of handguns. We have shrugged our shoulders as the judges in this country have permitted a certain segment of our youth to thumb their noses at the law and have taken a very lenient stance on youth violence….We have read the newspapers that literally hundreds of young people, in all our major cities, have been killed by guns and have done nothing. And now we are claiming we have lost our innocence. I, for one, am ashamed of myself!
—Brent & Barb Tolmie
My family and I live and work in the downtown area of Toronto and have done so for many years. I want to express my shock and outrage at the latest cowardly act of gun violence on Yonge Street. It seems that these criminals have no fear whatsoever as they commit their despicable acts. I know that while tougher laws and punishments don't treat the cause of violence, we still need to send a strong message to all who would destroy what so many people worked so hard to build.
—Kelly Jones
What we are witnessing in Toronto is the result of a society that has lost control of its families. We see more and more divorces, single-parent families, drug use and a loss of respect for parents, teachers and police. At the same time, our justice system has become a joke. Politicians are more and more interested in being elected or re-elected than in standing up for issues. Greed has become the normal path.
Regards,
—Ed Skretka
The guns are not the problem. They are only the outlet for weak cowards that have no respect for the current laws. Let's get our laws upgraded and take back our provincial
capital.
—L. McDonald
Discharging a firearm should carry 25 years in prison without parole. Murder should be life and, I mean, the offender's entire life should be spent in prison. All political parties who have held power in this country at one point in time have failed Canadians.
—Syd Martin | Mississauga, Ont.
This is so sad. We are from Oshawa originally, moved to the north. Used to love going to Toronto to shop and weekends back to the city, but for the last six years, we have been going to Ottawa. It seems a lot safer; you don't have to watch every group of kids and what they are doing. It just seems so much more safe.
—Doug McNally
This shooting outside of Foot Locker is very scary considering I was right there three times in the last week, and that could have been anybody taking a stray bullet. I think a handgun ban would be amazing. I think it should be made a five- to 10-year prison term for possession alone for a handgun. If the people of the city don't feel safe leaving their homes, they will eventually fight back. I know I do.
—Kris Lashley
Paul Martin's idea to ban handguns is useless. Underage youths with illegal guns will not be affected. Sorry, Mr. Martin, but the solution is not a knee-jerk Liberal idea that will do nothing but punish the innocent while doing nothing to stop the reckless gang bangers trying to prove their manhood in a senseless way. Any real solution will end up being far more complicated.
Thanks,
—David Brink
When are the politicians going to do something about guns? In the typical political style, instead of doing something to protect innocent citizens, our leaders have decided to make it a political issue to get votes, left and right. Come on boys, finally act like responsible adults and stop waddling up to the slop trough every day while the gun fight at the 'OK Corral' blazes on. The streets are littered with the bodies of our children. I think it's a crime for the leaders of the country to do nothing.
—Robert Whone
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