In The American Flood-Soaked Cinematic Culture We Are Getting Used To Witnessing This Sort Of Carnage!
The politicians in United States, are too fearful of the gun lobby to address violence, and as a society, the American are stuck on theoretical debate about the Second Amendment- “right of the people to keep and bear arms”. “Despite events such as the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, the Beltway sniper spree in the Washington, D.C., area in 2002, the massacre at Virginia Tech University in 2007 and the shootings at the Fort Hood military base in 2009, support for gun control has steadily declined across the U.S”.
By Dr. Bikkar Singh Lalli
Norway recently paused to remember the 77 victims the shooting rampage, at a youth camp on Utoya Island, by Andre Breivik a 33 year old far-right fanatic. On July 20, James Holmes, a college drop-out, opened fire at the audience in the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises”, in a theatre in Aurora Colorado – the result: 12 dead and 58 wounded. In the American flood-soaked cinematic culture we are getting used to witnessing this sort of carnage.
The politicians in United States, are too fearful of the gun lobby to address violence, and as a society, the American are stuck on theoretical debate about the Second Amendment- “right of the people to keep and bear arms”. “Despite events such as the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, the Beltway sniper spree in the Washington, D.C., area in 2002, the massacre at Virginia Tech University in 2007 and the shootings at the Fort Hood military base in 2009, support for gun control has steadily declined across the U.S”.
How do we stop guns entering Canada? Federal govt. has spent billions of dollars at the border security. Drugs/guns traffickers are using every means including small planes, small sub-marines for pushing their products. A good number of vulnerable police officers, in Mexico and in some other jurisdictions, are on the pay-role of the drug cartels, either driven by greed or by fear. And once trapped there is no way out for those victims of greed.
There are over 160 known gangs in British Columbia alone, and 60 in Toronto, with membership counting in thousands. Afghan Dragons, Latin Criminals, Skeena Boys, Game Light Soldiers, Cree Boys, Empire Gangs, United Nations, Native Blood Gang, Cop killing Villains, Butter Brothers, Dahk/Duhra Group, Red Scorpions, Independent Soldiers and Asian Gangs – to name some. A member must provide detailed information about the family to the gang leaders. Once a member, there is no way out except death or jail. The average age when youth begin to associate with gangs is 13 years. Gangs in B.C. are fighting over the profits created by drug prohibition, particularly the enormous revenue they generate from the marijuana industry. The drug’s supply is widespread and it remains easily available to all, including youth. Since 1990, the potency of marijuana has increased by 145 per cent and the price decreased by 58 per cent, suggesting that the marijuana market is oversaturated. In short, marijuana is more accessible and more potent today despite massive taxpayer investments in efforts to control it.
The main hobby of the gangsters is to traffic drugs and guns for the lure of money, power and control. The profit margin in drug trade is mind boggling. The price of one kilogram of refined cocaine hydrochloride is roughly $2,400 in Columbia/Bolivia/Peru, and by the time it reaches Mexico, it shoots up to $10, 000. Eventually, when it is brought to US, using various means such as coffins, gas tanks, wooden furniture, and spare tires, under ground tunnels, or cargo trucks, the price of one kilo jumps to $22,000. It was reported once in Vancouver Sun, that the cocaine consumption in US in 2009 was 157 tons, and the Canadians consumed 14 tons that year. Would you believe that a kilo of cocaine purchased in Columbia for about $2,400 could fetch as much as $300,000 in Toronto? The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates worldwide profits in the cocaine trade at about $84 billion in 2009.
The use of guns illegal in Canada’s big cities, is taking a toll of innocent bystanders. The federal government needs to figure out why handguns are still flooding into the country and why border guards are missing them. If they’re being smuggled into Canada through aboriginal reserves, it will have to work with the First Nations to stop the influx
The carnage in Toronto on the evening of July 16 is shocking but not surprising. There is no consolation that, despite the carnage that broke out on the night of July 16, “Toronto is in the minor leagues of homicide. Detroit, a much smaller city, has chalked up 184 so far this year. Chicago has had 277. The two young people killed at Monday’s house party in Toronto – Shyanne Charles, 14, and Joshua Yasay, 23 – were victims 27 and 28” (Margaret Wente).
I strongly believe that ways can be found to dilute the profit margin in drug trade, which is the “The Attraction” for an entry into a gang. “Polls show that Canadians believe we should rethink our approach to marijuana and the majority of British Columbians support regulating and taxing the drug. The question is: How much more extreme gun violence do our communities have to endure before our politicians get the message?” (Evan Wood is founder of Stop the Violence BC and David Bratzer a police officer).
Indo-Canadian community, which has lost so many precious lives in drug trade, must become more serious in taking care of the children especially those between the age of 11 and 17. We must start having family discussions about youth problems. A study has shown that while 92 per cent of parents of 11 to 19 year olds claim to have talked with their kids about drugs in the past year, 40 per cent of parents surveyed admitted that their conversation lasted a few minutes or less. That is not what we would consider a meaningful dialogue.
Let us try to understand some possible risk factors. They are:1) negative influences on youth’s life,2) limited attachment to the community, 3) lack of attachment to their cultural identity,4) over reliance by teenagers on anti-social peers, 5) poor parental supervision, 6) child abuse by parents, 7) history of family violence and crime, 8) alcohol and drug abuse by parents, 9) poor educational or employment potential, 10) lack of friends, personal support and sense of belonging.
Her are some suggestions for protecting our children from ending up in morgues or jails: Spend quality time with your children; Get involved with your child’s school activities; Encourage your child to participate in positive afterschool activities; Discuss with your children the dangers of drugs, guns and membership in gangs; Know your child’s friends and their families; Be a knowledgeable role model, learn more, and regularly provide information to your child; Show to your child that status and a good life can be achieved legitimately through legitimate means; careers, trades, sports, and the arts.
What I learnt from my totally unlettered grandfather was the following lesson: your children need your love and your presence more than they need your money. We, as parents and \grand parents, should keep in mind that “Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation”.
Bikkar Singh Lalli is a Surrey-based writer and educationist!
