From: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Cdn-Firearms Digest) To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Subject: Cdn-Firearms Digest V9 #656 Reply-To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Sender: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Errors-To: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Precedence: normal Cdn-Firearms Digest Thursday, July 20 2006 Volume 09 : Number 656 In this issue: Mayor vows crackdown on litter and other little things Stats say city centre safer Mayoral candidate says streets are unsafe downtown Bail for shooting suspects criticized; LAWYERS DON'T FORESEE BAIL SPREE Paroled convict gets two-years for eight-hour standoff BRITAIN: Crime Warning shot as more criminals use guns How dangerous police work? Time for CPC to feel some heat ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:44:01 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Mayor vows crackdown on litter and other little things PUBLICATION: The Province DATE: 2006.07.20 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: A10 BYLINE: John Bermingham SOURCE: The Province WORD COUNT: 148 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mayor vows crackdown on litter and other little things - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mayor Sam Sullivan is planning to take care of the little things that mean a lot. Sullivan outlined a plan yesterday to tackle annoying and nuisance behaviours such as littering and jaywalking that generate a lot of complaints from citizens. "The smaller things are actually having a profound impact on our citizenry," he told the Vancouver Police Board yesterday. "I'm hearing from citizens, and I believe we need to do better on the annoyances and the nuisances that degrade our public realm and our community." Sullivan said he wants more police officers patrolling the streets. And he wants the city's 150 or so bylaw-enforcement officers to be on the lookout for public disorder. Sullivan wants city bylaws better enforced, and more public education about good and bad behaviours. Sullivan said the plan "will refocus our city and the police department toward things that the citizens care about." Sullivan said the city has the "best police in the world," and wants the citizens to see it. He also wants to explore cost-sharing with other police departments, to get the maximum number of officers out on patrol. jbermingham@png.canwest.com - - - - WHAT DO YOU THINK? Give us your comments by fax at 604-605-2223, or by e-mail at provletters@png.canwest.com. Be sure to spell out your first and last names and give your hometown. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:44:21 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Stats say city centre safer PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS DATE: 2006.07.20 PAGE: B1 SECTION: City WORD COUNT: 1357 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stats say city centre safer Offences on decline, especially downtown - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aldo Santin Aldo Santin The latest crime statistics show that downtown Winnipeg has less crime than most other areas of the city. The 2005 annual report of the Winnipeg Police Service showed that there were fewer criminal code offences reported downtown than any other area, with the downtown also showing declines in all major categories of crimes. "There's a perception that downtown is unsafe and there is the reality and I think the statistics show the reality," Stefano Grande, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement Zone, said. The report found that between 2004 and 2005, there was a 24 per cent decline in the number of criminal offences in downtown, the biggest percentage decline of any area in the city. The report also found that downtown had the smallest number of total criminal code offences compared to other areas of the city. While the downtown area has a reputation of being unsafe, the report found that between 2004 and 2005, there was a three per cent decline in the number of violent crimes against people, a 14 per cent decline in crimes against property, and 62 per cent decline in other crimes, including prostitution and firearms and offensive weapons. Grande said the perception of downtown being unsafe is most likely fueled by the area's homelessness and panhandling situation. All types declined The report, which was released yesterday morning, found that crimes of all types had declined across the city by six per cent between 2004 and 2005. The report found that even though there were fewer murders in Winnipeg in 2005 (25) than the year before (34), the number of all violent crimes against people had increased six per cent: attempted murder (+20%); assaults (+5%), abductions (+71%), and robbery (+15%). The report found that the number of sexual assaults was the same (672) as in 2004 and the number of other sexual offences (22) had declined by 42 per cent. The report trumpeted the early successes of Operation Clean Sweep, a task force targeting crime in the West End, but an area spokesman said criminal activity has spiked in the neighbourhood since the task force was scaled back at the beginning of 2006. Maggie Friesen, president of the Spence Neighbourhood Association, said gang and illegal drug activity is on the upswing once again. Even though most incidents of crime had declined downtown, the report found that the number of assaults had increased five per cent and the number of robberies had increased 4 per cent. The number of murders (3) dropped 40 per cent and the number of sexual assaults (49) declined 55 per cent. Comparing 2005 with 2004, the report stated there were more police officers in 2005 (1,308) compared to 2004 (1,235) and fewer civilian members in 2005 (333) than in 2004 (368). On a per capita basis, there was one police officer for every 539 residents in 2005, an increase from 2004 when there was one officer for every 546. The Winnipeg Police Service operating budget had decreased slightly between 2005 and 2004: $127.029 million in 2005, compared to $127.612 million in 2004. aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:44:52 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Mayoral candidate says streets are unsafe downtown PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Citizen DATE: 2006.07.20 EDITION: Final SECTION: City PAGE: C1 / Front COLUMN: Randall Denley BYLINE: Randall Denley SOURCE: The Ottawa Citizen WORD COUNT: 651 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kilrea got just what he wanted - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The motley assortment of street people who hang around the Rideau and Sussex pedestrian underpass couldn't have done a better job of making Terry Kilrea's point if he'd paid them. The mayoral candidate says the streets are unsafe downtown and we need to hire 78 more front-line police officers to do something about it. The colourful characters shouting obscenities at Kilrea yesterday could certainly give you the impression it's time for a new broom. Things are seldom as simple as they seem, though. The people who were so angry at Kilrea are more of a threat to themselves than to the public. They're losers who like to sit around all day and stare at each other's tattoos, but they are more likely to be victims of crime than its perpetrators. No self-respecting criminal would hang out with this crowd. If you were looking for a new sheriff, Terry Kilrea would certainly be your man. The hulking mayoral candidate looks like he could run any bum out of town and enjoy doing it. In fact, he vowed to "lead a personal attack on gangs, thugs, muggers and swarmers." It made me think Kilrea might have seen the movie Walking Tall one time too many. Kilrea also said vandals and graffiti makers will be punished. It sounds like a pretty good deal. Elect Kilrea and not only do you get a mayor, you get a sheriff and a chief judge, too. Technically, the mayor doesn't actually determine how the police do their jobs and what punishments the courts hand out, but those are details for later. Kilrea also wants to get homeless people off the street. That's always tough to do, because most of them are on the street by choice. If they wanted to do something else, they would. They are unsightly, but they aren't doing much harm. It's tough to be terribly sympathetic to these people, especially those complaining that the shelters are full and welfare doesn't pay enough to live on. No doubt. The solution is to get a job and get a life, not complain because your featherbed isn't comfortable enough. That said, there are no legal grounds to just sweep them up. People will probably like Kilrea's promise to hire 78 more officers and move 60 more back to front-line duties from what he describes as clerical work. Kilrea is clearly tough on crime, although I've never seen a politician who says he's soft on it. It's a moderately expensive election promise, which he estimates will cost $5 million to $6 million a year. Adding more police is the instinctive, some would say knee-jerk, solution to every crime problem. It's not just a numbers game, though. There already seems to be a reasonable number of police in the downtown core and with the expansion we've had in the last few years, the police can't really claim to be short of bodies. There's a limit on what the police can do, though, no matter how many there are. A lot of the people who make the Rideau Street area look like an armpit aren't actually breaking any laws. It is a popular area for drug dealers, but they are tough to stop. The police can't watch everywhere, all the time and, even if they do lay charges, someone else will just replace the guy they charged. Kilrea claims the Byward Market is a "no-go zone" at night. If so, it's surprising all those restaurants and bars haven't gone broke. It's difficult to determine the best solution for Rideau Street crime. It's certainly not getting rid of bus shelters and forcing transit users to stand in the winter wind unprotected, an idea conceived by Councillor Georges Bedard, which the police supported. Bedard's new idea of fencing off the pedestrian underpass will just move its denizens up the street. Kilrea seems overly gung-ho, but Mayor Bob Chiarelli himself recently said "we can't have drug dealers and punks and pimps in the shadow of the Peace Tower and at one of the busiest malls in Canada. We have failed badly and we should fix it." Typically, the mayor was reacting because another councillor brought the issue forward. City staff have been sent to find solutions. To his credit, Kilrea's out there on the street, talking about things that are important to people and putting up with some abuse for it. Even if his solutions are easy to criticize, we at least know they aren't empty political talk. Contact Randall Denley at 613-596-3756 or by e-mail, rdenley@thecitizen.canwest.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:45:47 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Bail for shooting suspects criticized; PUBLICATION: The Toronto Star DATE: 2006.07.20 EDITION: MET SECTION: News PAGE: A23 BYLINE: Betsy Powell SOURCE: Toronto Star WORD COUNT: 399 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bail for shooting suspects criticized; Province urged to fight release 'Protect society from poison' - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Ontario government should "vigorously" fight court rulings that fail to recognize the gravity of gun crime, such as decisions to release suspects on bail, says the Tory attorney general critic. Bob Runciman said yesterday the courts are too often making "illogical and frequently dangerous bail release decisions." They include the July 7 release of a 20-year-old man charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Jane Creba on Boxing Day, he said. It was the third time he has been let out of custody with charges pending. Last Friday, a 27-year-old man facing more than 100 charges, including 20 counts of trafficking firearms, was released on bail. The Crown opposed both releases. "There doesn't seem to be any recognition of increasing public concerns about what the courts are doing," said Runciman. Toronto police Chief Bill Blair said this week the release of people accused of crimes involving firearms is hard to stomach as the city experiences an unacceptable level of gun violence. While everyone should be presumed innocent and is entitled to due process, "society is entitled to protection," Blair said. Earlier this year, Attorney General Michael Bryant called for the toughening of bail rules. "Public confidence in our justice system plummets when someone accused of a gun crime is back out on the streets the next day," he said. "We need a presumption against the granting of bail for gun crimes. We have a reverse onus for other crimes, such as drug trafficking. It is time to do the same for gun crimes." Premier Dalton McGuinty has asked Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code to impose "reverse onus" bail for all gun crimes, which requires the accused to prove during a bail hearing that they are not a danger to the public or a flight risk. In a minority of cases, a suspect must establish why continuing detention is unjustified. These include murder, some drug offences and crimes committed while on bail. The onus is on the Crown in most cases to prove why an accused should be detained. Until the code is ever amended, the Crown should appeal those gun crime cases where it has opposed release to "send the judiciary a very strong message that we disagree with what you're doing here, this is not in the best interest of public safety and we're going to fight you tooth and nail. To some degree, that's about all they can do," Runciman said. He suggested the government require an annual reporting of the number of crimes committed by people on bail, probation or conditional release. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:46:52 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: LAWYERS DON'T FORESEE BAIL SPREE PUBLICATION: The Toronto Sun DATE: 2006.07.20 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: 28 BYLINE: ROB LAMBERTI WORD COUNT: 199 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LAWYERS DON'T FORESEE BAIL SPREE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The lawyer representing one of 78 people arrested in an anti-street gang sweep in Etobicoke says his client's release on bail won't open the court's floodgates in granting bail to others. Steven Lucas, 27, was granted bail last Friday after he was arrested May 18 in Project XXX, a police sweep that targeted the Doomstown Crips, a neighbourhood gang based in the housing project at Jamestown Cr. Lucas was charged with 100 counts in total, including 23 of possessing a firearm, 22 of possessing a firearm obtained by crime, 21 counts of possessing firearms for the purpose of trafficking and 20 counts of trafficking in firearms. Lucas was released on $50,000 surety with no deposit and his conditions include living with his parents in Brantford. Toronto Police said they're concerned that granting of bail for Lucas will be the start of others facing serious charges also getting bail. SMUGGLING ROUTE NIXED Leighton Bonnick, 27, who is charged with commission of an offence for a criminal organization, is to appear at a bail hearing today. Lucas' lawyer, Joe Wilkinson, estimates it could take at least four years before this case is completed. "Given how long other similar prosecutions are taking to work their way through the system, people should have their opportunity to wait for trial on bail," he said. Project XXX was the largest anti-gang initiative by Toronto Police and it also shut down a firearms smuggling route. Among the guns seized were 14 pistols, two ARP-15 rifles, two MAC 10 machine pistols and an AK-47. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:47:41 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Paroled convict gets two-years for eight-hour standoff PUBLICATION: Times & Transcript (Moncton) DATE: 2006.07.20 PAGE: A1 SECTION: NEWS BYLINE: Craig BabstockTimes & Transcript Staff WORD COUNT: 583 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Panic disorder led to police standoff; Paroled convict gets two-year prison sentence for eight-hour standoff at Moncton motel - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A bad case of social anxiety disorder caused a man to take over a Moncton motel bar in March, keeping police at bay for eight hours. Daniel Thomas Brophy, 46, was paroled from the Atlantic Institution in Renous on March 9 and at 10 a.m. the next morning he pulled a replica handgun and took over the Econo Lodge bar on West Main Street. His lawyer, David LeBlanc, told a Moncton provincial court yesterday morning that his client was in a state of panic because of his disorder. "When he was released, he was put on a train and while on that train, the panic set in," said LeBlanc. "He got off in Moncton and by the time he calmed down, the train left without him." Brophy checked into the Econo Lodge for the night and got drunk. The next morning, he began to feel panicky once again. He went to the bar for a drink, but didn't have any money. He pulled a gun on an employee - it was later learned to be a BB gun - and forced everyone to leave the bar. Police weren't able to talk him out of the bar until 6 p.m. Brophy, of Halifax, was charged with mischief for interfering with the lawful use of the business, uttering threats and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He pleaded guilty on June 15 and was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday by Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman. She followed a joint sentencing recommendation submitted by LeBlanc and Crown prosecutor Nicole Angers. Brophy gets no credit for remand time because his parole was revoked after this incident, meaning he's been serving his original sentence since his arrest. He'd been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for two counts of robbery, two counts of theft, possession of a stolen credit card and a drug charge. Three times prior to this incident he had his release revoked because he became intoxicated, violating a condition of his release. He was scheduled to be released tomorrow because it marked the end of his eight-year sentence. Angers told the court yesterday that Brophy went into the bar that morning and asked for a pack of cigarettes. When the employee turned around again, he had a gun in his hand, though he didn't point it at her. "'Here's the deal,'" Angers recalled him saying to the employee." 'I'm taking over this bar. Do what you have to do, but I'm taking over this bar.'" She didn't think Brophy was serious, but he assured her he was. The employee and the two customers left and police were called. Angers said Codiac RCMP Cpl. Al Boulianne was first to arrive and made contact with the man. He drew his weapon and ordered the suspect to drop his, but Brophy was in no mood to bargain. "He was angry and aggressive and said he would kill the officer by shooting him in the head," said the Crown. Brophy, who police say was drinking while held up in the bar, also said he had a hostage named Judy, but it was later learned he was alone. Boulianne spoke to him for a while and Brophy went from calm and regretful of the incident to angry. Police blocked off streets in the area and many had guns drawn, directed at the bar, where Brophy would periodically point his gun out a window. LeBlanc told the judge his client never posed a real danger and just wanted to be left alone. He knew he did something wrong and waited in the bar for police to arrive. Brophy told the court he was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder five years ago but was in denial and didn't take his medication. He's now taking the medication and seeing a psychologist. "That day on the train, and the incident that took place, assured me I need professional help," he said, after apologizing to those affected by his actions. Dugas-Horsman remarked that two years was a little low, especially given his record and the terror he instilled in those present in the bar. But the judge said she didn't think he actually intended to hurt anyone that day. "The only life that was truly in danger that day was Mr. Brophy's life," she said. Besides the two-year sentence, Brophy was also ordered to provide a DNA sample and banned for life from possessing firearms. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:47:56 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: BRITAIN: Crime Warning shot as more criminals use guns PUBLICATION: The Daily Telegraph DATE: 2006.07.20 PAGE: 004 SECTION: News BYLINE: John Steele WORD COUNT: 259 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crime Warning shot as more criminals use guns - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL recorded crimes - those reported to police and then logged for Government statistics - remained roughly stable in the year 2005-06, with a one per cent fall from the previous year, to 5,556,513 offences. However, total recorded violent crime rose by two per cent, compared with 2004-05, to 1,220,198 offences. There were 765 homicides, 12 per cent fewer than in the previous year, representing the third annual fall in a row. This was despite the death of 52 victims in the July 7 suicide bombings. However, the number of murders was still higher than the total of 739 in 1997 when Labour came to power. Serious woundings fell by four per cent to 18,825 offences, and the most serious violent crimes were down by 13 per cent. But the use of handguns in crime rose by seven per cent to 4,652 offences, and there was a 16 per cent year-on-year upsurge in the number of serious injuries in firearms incidents. Muggings in England and Wales rose by eight per cent, including a 10 per cent increase in gunpoint robberies. The figures showed a substantial increase in drug offences - up by 23 per cent to 178,500 in 2005-06. This is thought to be largely due to police issuing more formal warnings for cannabis possession - which rose from 88,000 to nearly 120,000. Home burglaries fell by seven per cent, to just over 300,000, reflecting the long-term downward trend in break-ins. Better car security also led to a fall in vehicle thefts by three per cent. The British Crime Survey, which canvasses the public about crime, estimated that in 2005-06, there were approximately 10.9 million crimes against adults living in private households. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:51:03 -0600 (CST) From: Barry Snow Subject: How dangerous police work? Do you work in a dangerous occupation? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10 most dangerous jobs are: 1. Timber cutters 2. Airplane pilots 3. Construction laborers 4. Truck drivers 5. Farm occupations 6. Groundskeepers 7. Laborers 8. Police and detectives 9. Carpenters 10. Sales occupations ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:52:06 -0600 (CST) From: "ross" Subject: Time for CPC to feel some heat letter sent not yet published . Have you let the Cpc know your displeasure!!! In a side by side comparison of Bill C 21 the new conservative firearms act, and the Old C-68 firearms act brought in by the Liberals, there are few if any significant differences. In fact with the exception of the long gun registration removal , they are identical. Why the Conservatives would continue using this flawed system which is nothing more than a money pit is beyond me. Further, Conservative policy calls for the scrapping of C-68 in its entirety, returning gun laws to pre 1995 rules, and the design and implementation of sensible and workable as well as financialy effective laws which would tend to lean on punishing those criminaly who misuse firearms. The conservatives seem to be shedding their skin, and morphin into a Mc Gunityesque creature, where breaking promises and lying are synonimous with bad leadership. Any inquiries to the CPC for comment by stakeholders, falls upon deaf ears. According to a well paced conservative insider, the "debate is over as far as doing anything more than what has been promised under C-21. I recall a previous government official who also told law abiding firearms owners the debate was over, and these same firearms owners (7.5 million of them) threw her out of office. Perhaps another demonstration is required by the conservatives. Promises made, we expect to be kept, Lie at your own peril. ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V9 #656 ********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:akimoya@cogeco.ca List owner: mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca FAQ list: http://www.magma.ca/~asd/cfd-faq1.html and http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/Faq/cfd-faq1.html Web Site: http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/homepage.html FTP Site: ftp://teapot.usask.ca/pub/cdn-firearms/ CFDigest Archives: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/~ab133/ or put the next command in an e-mail message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca get cdn-firearms-digest v04.n192 end (192 is the digest issue number and 04 is the volume) To unsubscribe from _all_ the lists, put the next five lines in a message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca unsubscribe cdn-firearms-digest unsubscribe cdn-firearms-alert unsubscribe cdn-firearms-chat unsubscribe cdn-firearms end (To subscribe, use "subscribe" instead of "unsubscribe".) If you find this service valuable, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the freenet we use: Saskatoon Free-Net Assoc., P.O. Box 1342, Saskatoon SK S7K 3N9 Home page: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/ These e-mail digests are free to everyone, and are made possible by the efforts of countless volunteers. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this digest as long as it not altered in any way.