My
letter sent to the Mayor/Premier/MLAs/MPs/Alderman (September
28,2008)
Re: escalating violence-gangs / KNIFE vs GUN
I am in full support with Calgary`s Mayor and Police Chief
for finally recognizing our need for more Police officers
in our growing city. This has been a serious NEED for several
years with the continuing increase in the violence and murder
rate. (Calgary homicides have tripled since 2003). Unfortunately
this alone will not solve our gang-violence problem. We
must also focus on changing out Justice system and stop
the revolving-door policy at the courts and stop the hug-a-thug
attitude. It is high time to stop allowing anyone to carry
guns and knives in public. I have been fighting for almost
five years to raise awareness about knives, to NO avail.
Knives are the "weapon of choice" in our city/province/country.
Most homicides in Canada are committed by "knife"
yet to this day the focus remains on "guns".
Steve
Sullivan, president of the Canadian Resource Centre for
Victims of Crime said... "more people die as a result
of knife violence", Sullivan suggested minimum sentences
ought to be considered in cases involving all weapons, not
just guns.
"Personally
I have very strong feelings that there is absolutely no
reason to carry a knife in the city. A knife can be every
bit as deadly as a gun or a bomb, and I have seen too much
evidence to prove that. The only reason I see for carrying
a knife in the city is to kill, and I believe society has
the right to protect itself against such behavior."
-Andy Kirkpatrick, Foothills Hospital-Calgary (Aaron Shoulders
surgeon)
We
need to have a city by-law and enforce it, that forbids
the carrying of knives and guns in public.
My
only son Aaron Shoulders was swarmed and brutally beaten
and stabbed by 12 Asian gang-members in 2003... he was tortured
to death, it took my son 15 days to die. Aaron also was
an innocent bystander. My son was promoting peace and saved
another's young mans life. Over 200 witnesses stood by and
watched, yet refuse to help police to this day.
Aaron's
killers remain FREE after more than 5 years. According to
our police chief, (article in the Sun July 23rd "we
are all in danger") the very gang that brutally murdered
my son, is also responsible for much of the violence and
blood-shed in our city since 2003.
It
is time we stop saying the victim was in the wrong place
at the wrong time, when someone is murdered or violently
attacked; when in fact the violent criminals/gangs are in
the wrong place doing the wrong thing.. it always seems
to be the victim that is in the wrong... and the violent
criminals/gangs get away with their horrific evil inhumane
acts.
The
time has come to stop making uninformed, uneducated and
hasty decisions that are merely band-aids and do not offer
any long term solutions. We need to take a close look at
other countries who have taken initiatives and successfully
lowered their gang violence/murder rate.
An
excellent book "Gangsta in the House" written
by Mike Knox, a 15-year veteran of the Houston Police Department...
w w w.gangguy.com Robert Eckels, Harris County Judge says
"This is a must read for every parent, educator and
government official in our country" Mayor Bob Lanier
Houston, Texas says "An honest, hard-hitting look at
gangs--causes and cures--by an honest, hard hitting ex-cop."I
would appreciate your feedback and plans tackling this serious
problem to start saving the lives of our youth.
Looking
forward to your timely response.
Thank
you.
Steffi Stehwien
Replies
to my letter:






