Is it open season on RCMP members? These point blank murders of two constables serving northern communities in NWT and Nunavut borders on the surreal. Serving in Afghanistan might be a safer option than being posted in one of these villages where social problems have obviously spiraled out of control. Shouldn’t our Federal Government step up their resolve to help address the problems that plague so many places in the remote regions of this country? It appears to me that too many communities like this have been left to fend for themselves with little or no support from Canada. Violence and murder becomes the bitter fruit of this neglect.
What is going on…
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:: Yukon Art ::
Well put. With my nephew about to go into service with the RCMP in the small town of Cut Knife, near North Battleford, I have found myself with a heightened sense of apprehension as the body count increases.
Your question has merit John. There are a few questions we ought to ask ourselves. Questions such as where do we stand on policies such as publicly funded daycare, publicly funded affordable housing, media ownership concentration, adequately funded drug harm reduction policy, or guaranteed annual income? After thinking about questions of this kind for a while, how about a few thoughts on tax cuts? What is our definition of a “society?”
Few individuals become cop killers, addicts, and generally criminal misfits because that is what they have always aspired to become from the time they were five-year old kids.
We are far past the time when Canadians have to stand up and say in a concrete way that this cannot happen again. Bringing back the death penalty is that way. If a young cop can get the death penalty for trying to make this a better country, why is it not appropriate for those who pull that trigger?
Ocassionally we get lucky and true justice is served quickly. That happened in 1998 when a warning shot to the forehead of Harley Timmers in Whitehorse ended the discussion about whether killing a cop was reasonable. That is seldom the case, though, and the laws have to change.
I’m sickened by the murder of Constable Scott, who was only 20 years old. I’m sickened that this is the second murder of an RCMP officer in the Territories in a month. And I’m sickened by what this will probably lead to – which is poorer policing in the communities that need it the most. The days when a cop in small communities could trust his neighbours, even the socially dysfunctional ones, are clearly over.
Obviously the killing and harming of any people should not be tolerated, that includes the death penalty. The police stand out because their job demands they attend to dangerous situations, therefore its especially grievous when an RCMP gets mowed down.
But what do we say when we witness the use of excessive force by the police that results in the death of a civilian? I refer to the Robert Dziekanski case at the Vancouver airport the other day. The video tape clearly shows what appears to be unjustified use of multiple firings of a taser and physical restraint by four RCMP that ended this man’s life.
I’m sure he and many like him won’t have the honour guard at their funeral.