Lost Innocence? Lost Naivete.

The gun violence in Toronto just burst it's imaginary borders from supposedly one corner of the city, the infamous Jane-Finch corridor. The perception is that it has spread out onto Yonge Street, the heart of the city with this recent horrendous killing on Boxing Day. In fact, it is the third shooting in the downtown area this year alone. What makes this such a wake-up call is that it took place in during the day amongst scores of shoppers. As well, the gangs involved seem to be from different parts of the city. The violence is not just a Jane-Finch sociological problem. It is a big city problem, that hits close to all Torontonian's homes.

Rationalization won't work anymore. A 15 year old high school athlete from the Beaches has been killed..... an innocent bystander probably out with her friends purchasing something with a gift card she was given for Christmas, was killed on the sidewalk in the heart of Toronto the Good.

From the Toronto Sun:

The police chief calls it "infuriating." The mayor is "saddened and angered." The PM blathers about "the consequences of exclusion" (whatever that means), the Premier blames "the insanity of guns" (can guns go insane?), and a senior cop declares "Toronto has finally lost its innocence."

No, no, no, no, no! Toronto lost its innocence long ago -- not with this, our 78th murder and 52nd gun homicide of 2005. This isn't even the first shooting near Yonge and Dundas this year -- it's the third.

What we have lost -- we hope -- is our naivete.

We've lost the dangerous illusion that the escalating gun violence that has scarred this city in recent years -- not months, years -- is an isolated problem, confined to a certain community, a certain income bracket or certain neighbourhoods.

We've lost the self-righteous notion that guns and gangs are problems imported from somewhere else. We've lost the elitist view that this kind of thing doesn't happen in "our Toronto."

Monday's victims are from all over; they are male and female; white, black, Asian. They are all of us.

One approach to solve this issue is not going to work, though I'm sure an attempt will be made to blanket the problem. No. It is a multi-leveled problem with historical roots. It needs a multi-pronged solution generated by all levels of government, in concert with the public. Poverty, familial breakdown, lack of focus in the school system, poor early intervention programs, victimization mentality, the addictive sense of belonging that a gang provides, easy access to guns, acceptance of violence as a means to dealing with conflict, a very poor consequential judicial system for youth, rampant drug problems, a breakdown of values, lack of personal ownership to dealing with problems, lax immigration laws that allow for unresolved issues from other countries to be played out on the streets of the city ALL play a role in creating this problem. ALL have to be addressed.

Before any of those issues are addressed however, the violence must be stopped in it's tracks NOW! The gangs and thugs, who seem to be taking control of the city, must be told in no uncertain terms that they are not in charge. Serious consequences have to be enforced. Politicians and Community Leaders must take back the city and break down the gun culture.

It is the culture of violence that has been allowed to evolve that needs to be addressed. How this has been allowed to occur I'm sure has many different theories, but the climate of political correctness and the acceptance of a mosaic of values being allowed to permeate Canadian society without it being questioned for fear of hurting someone's feelings has to have played a key role. Sure poverty plays some supporting role, but that's not the whole picture! There are pockets of poverty in different parts of this country that are far worse than where these thugs are thriving. On top of that, there is much less intervention (community centres, drop in centres, intervention programs etc, etc) happening than in Regency Park, Jane-Finch, and Scarborough!

Use some tough love with some bite! If the present laws arent tough enough, strengthen them! If the approach to youth crime isn't working Fix it! If immigration policies are too lax, tighten them! Let's move on this, and show these thugs that this country won't stand for a culture of violence, that this country has a set of values and a way of life that is clear, strong and free of gun toting lawless people who have no sense of right or wrong.

This is not a time for the Father O'Malley approach to life. Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman are not going to sing their way in to save the day. It's up to the leaders and the community to show them whose boss and throw them in jail.

We have to quit throwing millions of dollars into the pot to develop the touchy feely approach to dealing with the violence. Deal with the violent killing now...................then deal with the infrastructure. It's gone too far to navel gaze and form a art therapy program for drug dealers.