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8 * The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 13, 2006 Halton candidates respond to gun violence question To address the escalation of gun violence in Canadian cities, a Paul Martin government would act immediately to put in place a handgun ban as part of a five-part strategy to make our communities r B li U |®| -imJw s i \ ^ jjj * We hear about gun violence in Toronto and think it's far enough down the 401 that we be immune. But that's not the case, as witnessed by two recent shootings in Oakville. It's tempting to think a pledge by the Liberals to outlaw handguns would just solve the problem. But that's not going to happen. We've already spent billions registering weapons and banned all handguns, except those of registered target Garth Turner shooters and collectors. Police say Conservatives these people aren't the source of With the second shooting in Oakville in last three weeks, it is no more a far cry. Our dear old Halton [ is also not immune from the gun JF violence that has been plaguing v fj| Toronto. I believe Canada should work ^ with Americans to stem the flow of illegal handguns across the border. ^ ^ \ 1 p p P As well, I think penalties for gun ----- i crimes must be appropriately A nw ar Naqvi increased, but I also believe that it is NDP street weapons, and that gun laws are not the issue. Instead, our criminal justice sys tem is virtually no deterrent to criminals, who use guns, usually purchased through a pipeline lead ing south of the border. We need to empower our cops with a system that says if you use a gun, you're going to jail. Conservatives will ensure repeat criminals become `dangerous offenders' and stay locked up. We'll See Turner page 8 Each week during the federal election campaign, The Oakville Beaver is asking all the candidates to answer a specific question on a relevant issue. .In today' s edition, we are publishing responses from the Halton candidates. This week we asked the candidates: What will your party do to curb the growing threat of gun violence? Prime Minister Martin's five-part strategy to ban ^ handguns and make safer Gary Carr communities includes: Liberal Party · Banning handguns through an amendment to the Criminal Code that would invite provincial and territorial gov ernment participation to make the ban nation· Toughening penalties by re-introducing legislation to crack down on violent gun crimes and gang violence, by doubling the mandatory minimum sentences for key gun crimes: traf ficking of firearms, smuggling of firearms, and illegal possession of loaded handguns in public places. I have already voted in the House of critical to address the underlying social problems that result in angry, marginalized, disenfranchised young men who see nothing wrong with settling scores with bullets. A community mired in poverty and discontent shall surely breed unruly criminal youths. As your NDP candidate, I support a national child care program that SPELLING " 'W photog-aph courtesy ol , MCA Canada A'Chiv^s GRAMMAR READING WRITING Mayor William Anderson is the first to sign the guest book at Oakville YMCAYWCA' open house in 1957. Also shown: Ted Sexsmith, Y Executive Director and Miss Evelyn Hartwell - President of the Board of Directors. This preschool teaches your child to read. Oxford Learning's Little Readers AcademyTM is a funfilled way for your three to six-year-old to get ready for school and life. Contact us fo r more information or to book your no-obligation assessment. FRENCH STUDY SKILLS The Greens I cause crime, approach is comEstablish a permabining the prudent : nent Office for \vith the progres: Crime Prevention sive. We m ust at the federal level strengthen meas" i L - l P to diagnose, plan ures to combat gun an^ im plem ent smuggling and the youth and victim possession of friendly solutions, banned weapons to L Violence is pre confront the prob- ^ v e n t a b l e . It lem of illegal Kyle Grice requires governfirearms at its Green Party m ents use their source. resources wisely by The progressive: Truly tackling the risk factors caring about victims and. that cause violence instead preventing their victimiza- of just spending more on tion, requires we get tough schools or police, on causes in an intelligent Effective prevention can be and fiscally sustainable achieved in less time than way. That means establish- it takes to train new police, ing a concrete program We m ust learn from the like a Canadian crime pre- Boston success, vention board that will be It was not a miracle, tough on the risk factors See Grice page 8 Design Ideas for Your Home Maple Grove Village 511 Maple Grove Dr. Suite 2, Oakville (905) 849-4027 1131 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville (905) 469-1929 380 Dundas St. E Oakville (905) 257-1207 Take a tour today! Julie Eldridge Interior Design is offering 8 weeks of classes at the Iroquois Ridge Rec Centre Classes cover colour, room arrangements, furniture, fabrics, styles and more. Each participant w ill finish w ith a room design plan fo r their home. Julie Eldridge has a B.A. in Interior Design and 14 years' experience. Cost o f $190.00 YMCA o f Oakville We build stro n g kids, strong fam ilies, stro n g com m unities. w w w .o x fo r d le a r n in g .c o m Classes start Wednesday, January 18th To register please call 905.827.5889 or email: jeldridgeinteriors@cogeco.ca www.geocities.com/julieeldridgeinteriordesign LEARNING ) 410 Rebecca St., Oakville, ON L6K1K7 Telephone: 905-845-3417 Skills for Success , L essons for Life.