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Versions of this article appeared in all Sun Media papers
PUBLICATION: The Ottawa
Sun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSERVATIVE CRIME PLAN FULLY-LOADED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Conservative party will unveil "a very comprehensive response" to violent crime, including gun crime, within days, Sun Media has learned. The party has been examining approaches to the issue for release in a major platform announcement that includes consecutive sentences for those committing more than one violent crime. That would mean more time behind bars for violent offenders by restricting the use of concurrent sentencing, which has allowed prison sentences to be served at the same time. Violent lawbreakers and those convicted of major drug offences would not be eligible for conditional sentences, there would be mandatory minimum sentences and the party will also call for the strict enforcement of existing laws on handguns. "We're going to go after the Hells Angels, not Ducks Unlimited," said Conservative Deputy Leader Peter MacKay. "This idea that you can somehow create an atmosphere around people who are already respectful of the law and superimpose this blanket (handgun) ban as a solution -- a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach -- is an absolute abysmal failure. It's publicly misleading and it doesn't drill down into the real problem." MacKay was reacting to the shootout on Toronto's Yonge St. and said the Liberal party's promised handgun ban wouldn't have done a thing to prevent it. The former Crown prosecutor said the only solution is addressing the root causes of the gun-crime problem. "Those who are caught and brought to justice (must) pay a significant price. Deterrence does work," said MacKay. He believes stiffer sentences, mandatory minimum prison terms and increased resources for police would go a long way towards providing a solution in Canada's urban areas. "The people who are involved in these type of shootings are not the type of individuals who are going to adhere to a gun ban or ever register a gun, period," he said. "The Liberal party has proven time and time again that they're more concerned with the optics than the practicalities of these issues." MacKay would not discuss details of the party's upcoming major policy announcement on making Canadian streets safer. "A lot of it is what I would just call targeted investment where it's needed most and a strict and deterrent-style approach to violent crime, and it also includes the proliferation of the drug trade because that's what's behind a lot of this," he said. "The (Tory) policy stuff that's out there now is part of the answer but there's more coming." |