I once remarked in jest that banning knives would be the next proposal, followed by a scissors ban, a hammer ban and a ban on anything else that could be potentially be used as a murder weapon.
I was commenting about the political drives for gun bans. Well, Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel is actually thinking about a ban on the sale of large knives following a recent rash of stabbings. It’s another knee-jerk reaction by a politician trying to create the illusion to their voting bloc that they are steadfast defenders of public safety.
Political posturing is part of our own creation as we rely on a government fix-all approach to our collective woes — from the economy to the social maladies plaguing our communities. And our politicians recognize that silence is never golden in the microcosm of political life, particularly when there is an urgent public outcry on any matter.
In Vancouver, there have been seven brazen shootings in February alone as B.C. continues to grapple with surging gang-related crime, causing a frenzied fear among many citizens. In response, Ottawa unveiled anti-gang legislation which guarantees an automatic first-degree murder charge for any homicide linked to organized crime.
Time will tell how effective this bill will prove to be at reducing violence. In the meantime, there is a practical component that both government and citizens can work on together: Building mentorship programs, supported heavily by volunteerism.
With National Volunteer week coming up soon, consider the facts: In Canada, approximately 12 million volunteers contribute $112 billion in economic revenue, a bigger contribution to the country’s GDP than the manufacturing sector, with its two million paid employees. In fact, volunteerism is saving jobs by keeping many social service and health agencies afloat.
Vulnerable youth recruited into gang life have shown some remarkable turnarounds when integrated into mentorship programs of which volunteers are vital. But it costs money to recruit, train and promote volunteers. In tough economic times, crime and violence escalate, and there is extra need for funding to social services, which unfortunately get starved as governments gear stimulus packages toward the corporate sector.
It’s time for government to implement a sustainable, common-sense approach to both crime and stimulating the economy by investing in volunteerism to help improve our communities.
