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Layton Announces Measures Addressing Violent Crime, Illicit Street Drugs |
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Written by NDP
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Friday, 06 January 2006 |
NDP Leader Jack Layton took aim at violent crime with a set of clear, direct proposals to deal with violent crime – including the recent wave of gun-related violence. He also set out measures to address the proliferation of crystal meth.
“Poverty and alienation breed crime, but they are no excuse for it,” Layton said, noting that NDP proposals released earlier in the election, such as stronger support for education, are designed to give young people a better start in life.
“Nobody in Canada has the right to go around shooting others, no matter what the reason,” Layton said. “Guns have no business on the streets of our cities, except in the holsters of police officers.”
Layton released a comprehensive set of measures to make our streets safe from violent crime, including:
- A four-year minimum sentence for illegal possession and sale of restricted weapons such as handguns and automatics.
- Stopping the illegal importation of guns from the United States with a four-year minimum sentence for importing illegal guns and toughening border controls including arming customs officers.
- Support for reverse-onus legislation for bail on all gun-related crimes and making sure bail conditions are strictly adhered to.
- Improvements to witness protection programs so that witnesses can assist police without fear of retribution.
- Change to legislation so that young offenders 16 and over who are charged with gun offences are tried as adults.
Layton set out proposals to address the plague of crystal meth:
- Stop the illegitimate importation, sale of and access to the precursors of crystal meth.
- Increase support for drug addiction programs.
“We can make our streets safer, and we will,” Layton said. |
