Calgary West-The Issues:Gun Violence

**Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:19 pm

Of the issues on the front-burner in this campaign right now, gun-violence has been made prominent due in large part to the summer of terror that has plagued Calgary and other major Canadian cities. These days, Calgary seems more like the old west, with gunfire erupting in all parts of the city, and the lives of many ended or otherwise ruined. The most recent spate of the carnage has claimed it’s first civilian; a Brazilian student walking with his girlfriend was left blind after a stray bullet hit him in the head. It was only a matter of time. Up to now, the only victims have been involved in lifestyles conducive to ending up peppered with bullets.

Gun-control to the extent of an outright ban on handguns has been bandied about by some of the parties out there. I asked Kirk Schmidt for his views on this subject and he was very clear on his position; while he would like to see an all out ban on handguns in Canada, he realizes that this is simply not a practical solution. I mean it isn’t like the criminals are going to be using registered firearms for one thing. Along with this , even with a ban, it would be extremely difficult to completely eliminate them all together. Criminals will find a way to acquire them.

Kirk takes a more pragmatic and realistic view of this problem, and believes in a justice system that will deal with crimes involving guns in a better way than it is now. Tougher sentences for theses crimes to act as a deterrent, and as a means to keep the bad guys off the streets is how we can best start to deal with this plague.

It’s time we sent someone to Ottawa who wants to represent the people of Calgary West, not just be a politician. That someone, is Kirk Schmidt.

On October 14th, vote Kirk Schmidt, Independent.