Having a kick at crime

The province seems to be on a law-and-order kick. Nobody’s safe, anywhere from - at least -petty crime and nuisance.

Our Kings and Hants county court reports underline crime is alive, and doing too well.

In the Halifax area, shootings and knifings have become routine and violent youth crime has received a big profile - particularly crime among girls. Even a former federal cabinet minister and premier’s family has fallen victim to the mayhem. The family of USN petty officer Damon Crooks, murdered while coming to the aid of a comrade in a bar altercation in Halifax a year ago, was in town last week for a memorial service. The local community raised $60,000 for the sailor’s family.

The drumbeat of crime continues in the background.

The CBC Halifax news hour show – being the CBC and probably hoping to hear an outcry on the importance of the rights of criminals - recently held a phone and email session on the matter of a suspect shot by police following an altercation. The oft-convicted scofflaw complained loudly and broadly of having been shot and put naked in a cell for observation overnight, among other alleged indignities.

Poor wretch.

His reception by police was so unlike his past 30 or so run-ions, he claimed.

Instead of an outflow of love and respect for his rights from the populace, poll input suggested police in the United States would have justifiably perforated the suspect with at least 30 rounds; public flogging be brought back; and the CBC had no business bringing such a miscreant into our living rooms at supper hour.

Host Jim Nunn: the message was clear.

Yes, it’s clear folks have just had enough.

Into all of this, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa was also in town last week to look at the possibility of a chapter in Halifax. He met with civic officials and went on a tour of the area. The New Yorker was shocked at what he witnessed.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s bill on getting tougher on crime is in the works, with Opposition parties falling all over themselves to claim kinship. Heavier penalties for drug and weapons crimes, and those against children, are in order.

Some critics threaten to become unwound because the Harper government has stopped interventions in cases of Canadians who have earned death sentences in other countries. I have often questioned the wisdom of trying to intervene in such things: it smacks of old-time capitulation, imposing your laws on others in their own countries. As well, as Harper points out, the host country may just deport the criminal to Canada.

Then we’d be in for it.