A Puzzle

Once again we read, for the second year in a row, that our fair city of Abbotsford is the murder capital of Canada. Because we are repeat champions, we must be doing something right. It is common knowledge that almost of all of these murders are gang related, and taking the gang activity out of the equation, we would be quite low on the national list. One then must ask the question, "Why do gangs favour our city?"

This is an interesting question because the Fraser Valley is often referred to as the Bible Belt of BC and Abbotsford is the 'belt buckle'. Because of this, one would think that gangs would feel uncomfortable in a community with strong faith and so many church going people. But, we are more than that.

We are an affluent community and where there is money, there are drugs, and where there are drugs there are gangs. Also, we are a community with a large ethnic group that seems to provide most of the victims and perpetrators of these murders. When young people of any ethnicity grow up in affluence, they are spoilt. They do not have a long term plan to get an education, start a career, and begin to build their own life. They want it all now. They want the shortcut. And so, gangs are a big enticement. They are a fast road to the big life with lots of excitement, partying, cars, girls, and a high rolling lifestyle. The enticement is reinforced by the media, namely music, movies and TV.

With little parental guidance, so many of these young men believe that they are pursuing a rich and exciting life. 

I give credit to our local police  because they are trying to get the message out that gangs are deadly. The life span of a gang member is short. These youngsters should not need to be told, but they seem to be oblivious to the danger. They feel invincible. Until they become one of the statistics that makes Abbotsford so famous.