Surrey RCMP have now been called to 31 shots-fired incidents in 2016 – as of Monday evening. (There may well be more by the time this column is published).
While there has only been one death as a result of the gunfire at last count, there have been five injuries. Nine buildings have been struck.
Perspective is important. The 31 shots-fired incidents represent half of all such incidents reported to police last year. That was a year in which police and members of the public both made it clear there were a staggering number of shots fired.
If this year’s incidents continue at the same rate, there will be twice as many in 2016.
While most of these incidents are related to drugs, gangs and fights over turf, that is cold comfort to Surrey residents. Many of these shooters are inaccurate; the likelihood of shots hitting an innocent person, vehicle or residence are quite high. While most incidents take place in the later evening hours, that doesn’t mean an innocent person won’t be struck.
Such a situation happened last year in Abbotsford, where an innocent man out in his yard was killed by gunfire aimed at a neighbouring residence. The drug turf war in that city strongly resembles the one in Surrey, and some of the players are the same.
Surrey RCMP Supt. Manny Mann said at a press conference on Friday that “I can confirm that five of the 28 incidents (as of Friday) are associated to a new drug-related conflict between two groups.”
After that press conference, there were two shootings on the weekend. In one, which took place on Saturday, one man was seriously injured when shot near Kirkbride Elementary at 92 Avenue and 122 Street. The next day, there was a shooting near 88 Avenue and 132 Street, near Surrey Fire Department’s headquarters.
It is obvious the shooting situation is completely out of control. While police know some of the people involved, any arrests they may have made haven’t stopped the spate of shots fired. Surrey may have a large extra contingent of police officers, as promised by politicians, but that is having no effect on the indiscriminate shooting.
Several points need to be made.
One is that the guns used are almost all handguns – and most of those are coming in illegally from the U.S. where it is easy to buy a handgun. Most people realize handguns are the weapon of choice for criminals, and that any gun-control measures proposed in Canada are completely useless in stopping such shootings.
Another point is that the pending legalization of marijuana, as planned by the federal Liberal government, will not stop the gang wars. While some of the gangs currently fighting in Surrey may be trying to elbow others out of the marijuana business, that is likely just a small component of the battle.
If and when marijuana is available legally at stores, drug gangs will simply find other lines of business. Indeed, much of their business today is in other lines. It is instructive that at Friday’s press conference, the RCMP unveiled the results of a huge drug seizure.
A total of $4.5 million worth of heroin, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl and fake oxycontin was seized from a vehicle in Newton on March 16. Facing four drug charges is Pardip Hayer, 30, of Abbotsford.
The drug business is a big business. Those involved stand to make a lot of money, and many of them will likely die young. Meanwhile, innocent people are at risk as the gangsters shoot at each other from cars, set up ambushes, shoot into houses and bring mayhem to Surrey neighbourhoods.
What, if anything, will the city and Surrey RCMP do to reduce the number of shots-fired incidents?
Frank Bucholtz writes Wednesdays for Peace Arch News, as well as at frankbucholtz.blogspot.ca – email frank.bucholtz@gmail.com