Image Credit: RCMP supplied / Oct. 19, 2022

By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: It’s a wild and violent world out there

Oct 28, 2022 | 5:30 AM

WHEN REID HAMER-JACKSON WAS ELECTED MAYOR, it was pretty clear his platform, especially the concern about community safety, hit a raw nerve among voters.

It’s not just the violence surrounding gang wars, which has spread from the Lower Mainland to the entire province, it’s the sharp increase in violence ranging from targeted attacks on physical structures to random attacks on people, both physically and by bullying on social media.

Here in Kamloops, people responded to Reid’s no-nonsense approach. That was true in many parts of the province. The world has changed, and not for the better. Shortly after the election, a vehicle was torched on Hamer-Jackson’s West Victoria Street car dealership.

Coincidence? You decide.

We as seeing more break-ins, and robberies, all of which are becoming more and more violent. People are afraid to walk in their own neighbourhoods at night. Explosions of temper leading to road rage.

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Wednesday morning, four RCMP vehicles and an ambulance were among eight vehicles torched in an apparent attack against emergency vehicles in Smithers.

Every day, almost, you can tune in a U.S. network and learn about another shooting. And it’s spreading north of the border.

Immigrants make up 23 per cent of Canada’s population according to a recent report and racial attacks against them seem to be increasing. And we won’t even go into the systemic racism against Indigenous Peoples.

All of this points to a need for change and the sooner the better. This of course is just the tip of the iceberg. Solutions won’t come easy. The pieces of this puzzle are many and fitting them together will be a challenge. Meeting the challenge will not be for the faint of heart. We’ve been through these wars before, but this war could be the most daunting yet, and the toughest to win.

So let’s get at it, Mr. Mayor. We’ve put our faith in you, so let’s see where you take us.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.