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**teergoBissono** · 02-07-2009, 11:31 AM

Gun Violence, Shootings 'Unacceptable': BC Solicitor-General John van Dongen

The Canadian Press
February 5, 2009

Solicitor-General John van Dongen says he is working on a plan to reduce the number of firearms on the streets, such as those that have led to a rash of deadly shootings in Metro Vancouver this year.

The solicitor-general acknowledged the public is concerned about the epidemic of violence and has lost confidence in the ability of B.C. courts to deal with gun violence.

Three people were gunned down in Metro Vancouver over 24 hours this week, including a man who rented the Surrey apartment building where six people -- including two bystanders -- were slaughtered in October 2007.
Raphael Baldini, who was shot in the parking lot of a busy Surrey mall, got bail on eight gun charges just two weeks after the slayings in his apartment.

"One of the common elements in these cases is the huge proliferation of firearms, all illegally being used," van Dongen said.

"At the end of the day, when you have a court system that is failing, when you have these people out who've been charged numerous times with weapons offences, you know they are up to no good. Our police officers can only do so much."

Baldini, 21, was charged Nov. 14, 2007 after being arrested in a car containing a 9-mm Glock and a Walther p22c semi-automatic. Both were loaded. He was released two days later on $15,000 bail.

Others facing several gun charges, such as Red Scorpion associates Dennis Karbovanec and Jarrod and Jamie Bacon, have all been released on bail even though rivals have been targeting them in public shootings. Karbovanec was shot twice, though not fatally, on New Year's Eve.

"You've got people out on bail that are walking the streets that are getting police protection, which is absolutely insane. It is wrong-headed. They should be in jail. They should not be allowed out on the street," Watts said. "The time has come where we should put the safety of the general public first and foremost and not the criminals."

"You look at what happened in 2007 in Surrey and you did have two innocent people who got killed."

Meanwhile, police confirmed that Baldini was the man who rented suite 1505 in the Balmoral Tower, where six people were slain.

Cpl. Dale Carr, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said police did not know if there was any link to the Surrey six case and the Baldini slaying.

They do not think Baldini's death is related to the murder two hours later of a Port Coquitlam woman who was well known to police, or the shooting Monday night in Whalley of James Ward Erickson.

The woman's name had not yet been released by police Wednesday.
Watts said all players at the federal, provincial and municipal level need to come together and work on more creative solutions to the crisis.

02-07-2009, 11:31 AM	#1
teergoBissono Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 478 Senior Member	Canada: Gun Violence, Shootings 'Unacceptable' in BC Gun Violence, Shootings 'Unacceptable': BC Solicitor-General John van Dongen The Canadian Press February 5, 2009 Solicitor-General John van Dongen says he is working on a plan to reduce the number of firearms on the streets, such as those that have led to a rash of deadly shootings in Metro Vancouver this year. The solicitor-general acknowledged the public is concerned about the epidemic of violence and has lost confidence in the ability of B.C. courts to deal with gun violence. Three people were gunned down in Metro Vancouver over 24 hours this week, including a man who rented the Surrey apartment building where six people -- including two bystanders -- were slaughtered in October 2007. Raphael Baldini, who was shot in the parking lot of a busy Surrey mall, got bail on eight gun charges just two weeks after the slayings in his apartment. "One of the common elements in these cases is the huge proliferation of firearms, all illegally being used," van Dongen said. "At the end of the day, when you have a court system that is failing, when you have these people out who've been charged numerous times with weapons offences, you know they are up to no good. Our police officers can only do so much." Baldini, 21, was charged Nov. 14, 2007 after being arrested in a car containing a 9-mm Glock and a Walther p22c semi-automatic. Both were loaded. He was released two days later on $15,000 bail. Others facing several gun charges, such as Red Scorpion associates Dennis Karbovanec and Jarrod and Jamie Bacon, have all been released on bail even though rivals have been targeting them in public shootings. Karbovanec was shot twice, though not fatally, on New Year's Eve. "You've got people out on bail that are walking the streets that are getting police protection, which is absolutely insane. It is wrong-headed. They should be in jail. They should not be allowed out on the street," Watts said. "The time has come where we should put the safety of the general public first and foremost and not the criminals." "You look at what happened in 2007 in Surrey and you did have two innocent people who got killed." Meanwhile, police confirmed that Baldini was the man who rented suite 1505 in the Balmoral Tower, where six people were slain. Cpl. Dale Carr, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said police did not know if there was any link to the Surrey six case and the Baldini slaying. They do not think Baldini's death is related to the murder two hours later of a Port Coquitlam woman who was well known to police, or the shooting Monday night in Whalley of James Ward Erickson. The woman's name had not yet been released by police Wednesday. Watts said all players at the federal, provincial and municipal level need to come together and work on more creative solutions to the crisis.
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