Vancouver B.C : Gang Violence. Too Close For Comfort

Gang Violence. Too Close For Comfort

Solicitor-general urges tougher sentences for thugs who open fire in public

Neal Hall and Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun

Published: Saturday, September 15, 2007

Gangland gunfire rang out in the Vancouver area this week, revealing victims and suspects having links to the Hells Angels, as well as Asian and Indo-Canadian gangs.

While the brazen public shootings -- one near two public schools in Langley, another at the upscale Quattro restaurant in a neighbourhood of million-dollar homes on Vancouver's west side -- shocked law-abiding citizens, police offered assurances the incidents appear to be unrelated and not part of a gang war.

Vancouver's new police Chief Jim Chu said the recent spate of shootings appear to be just a "spike" of incidents that don't appear to be a trend. At least not yet, he added.

Two bullet holes can be seen in the windshield of the black Hummer SUV that was driven by Len Pelletier. Gunmen chasing the vehicle fired at it while it was near a Langley school.View Larger Image View Larger Image

Two bullet holes can be seen in the windshield of the black Hummer SUV that was driven by Len Pelletier. Gunmen chasing the vehicle fired at it while it was near a Langley school.

The problem, police said, is too many gang members are packing guns for protection and are prepared to use them to settle personal scores and "business" disputes -- police estimate 90 per cent of gangs are linked to the illegal drug trade, especially B.C.-grown marijuana, which is is being shipped across the U.S. border in exchange for cash, cocaine and firearms.

Those responsible for opening fire in public places like schoolyards or restaurants should face stiffer prison terms, Solicitor-General John Les said Friday.

Asked if the fact a shooting occurs in a crowded public location should be considered at sentencing, Les told The Vancouver Sun: "I would be behind something like that 1,000 per cent."

"The whole concept of aggravating factors being taken into consideration at the time of sentencing is of course not unusual in the Criminal Code," Les said.

Like everyone else, Les said he was shocked by the public displays of gunfire this week, particularly the Langley one near two schools as students were arriving.

"The one we had this week with a shooting going on amongst kids on the way to school is a particularly disgusting manifestation of this kind of unacceptable behaviour," Les said.

While there is some risk to the public, he said, people should remember that most of those involved are criminals.

"The thing I notice, and I hope the public notices as well, whenever we see these gang-like shootings, is that invariably it seems that both the victim and the perpetrators are known to police, and secondly, known to one another," he said.

"So I guess the bottom line is, if you are a law-abiding citizen and your people are law-abiding people, there is actually very, very little to be concerned about.

"There is no question that there is potential there for unintended consequences and the public to be in some danger."

The gang problem appears to be growing -- the number of gangs in B.C. increased for the third year in a row, said 2007 police intelligence figures released to The Sun this week.

Insp. Gary Shinkaruk, who heads the RCMP's Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs unit, said this week's displays of violence indicate a complete contempt for public safety, which is what is most startling about these crime groups.

When gun-toting criminals opened fire at a Hells Angels associate near two Langley schools, so many other innocents were put at risk, he said.