COLLINS: List of “bad guys” indicative of the state of panic over crime
WE ARE GETTING PARANOID ABOUT the state of gang violence in our province. We’re pretty concerned about all forms of crime, but gangland hits, many of which occur in public spaces, are drawing particular attention.
Gang members execute their enemies in crowded areas, full of innocent victims. After the fact, police will tell us it was targeted and there’s no further threat to the public but it sure was “panic city” when it was happening.
And according to those who have suffered this trauma, it’s terrifying to be caught up in a scenario where the lives of your loved ones are affected. Concern is growing to such an extent that, for the second time in a few months, the police have issued a poster with pictures of gang members likely to be targeted. The poster urges you to stay away from these people because they could be involved in violent crimes.
To me, it’s a waste of time, at least the pictures are. When the poster came out Wednesday, I studied it very carefully and Thursday morning, I have to say I would not recognize any one of those 11 people if they came and knocked on my door. For some, it might be different but for me it didn’t help.
