What we could tell Tony Blair

The headlines all week in London have been screaming about the shooting deaths of three young men in gang-related cases. On Saturday, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced a crackdown on firearms possession and possibly on teenage gangs.
In classic British news-speak referring to No. 10 Downing Street, the Times of London was reporting early Sunday that "No 10 also announced an emergency meeting of ministers, police and community leaders to discuss how to respond to the gang killings."
The opposition was quick, as they are over there, to deride Blair's moves as insufficient.
The BBC quoted opposition leader Sir Menzies Campbell as saying that besides a stronger enforcement approach, "All young people should feel they have a stake in society - effective schooling, more engaged youth services and better community support are all needed to help young people escape the cycle of deprivation and gang culture."
Sound familiar?
Those thoughts are among the things that those closest to the gang problem in Battle Creek have been saying.
It's what we heard from the community a year ago in the Violence: A Cycle of Neglect series.
Yes, enforcement is needed. But along with it, the leaders here and there both say, we need to take care of the generations ahead before they pick up guns, too.

Comments

[DexterXcress]

"stronger enforcement approach" and "better community support" are key to this issue.

The recent community meeting and turn-out showed that we have a concerned core of citizens wanting and willing to step up to the plate. We need to follow through, keeping the momentum and actively engage our youth.

The stronger enforcement approach has been the subject of a number of attempts by various local law enforcement agencies over the past few years. The Battle Creek City Police administration needs to finally participate.

Quoting the BBC article they've said, "It's not just tougher laws that are needed but also strong enforcement, with police on our streets, and a new focus on the drivers of gang crime - most of all family breakdown,"

Great article Bob.

[Carey A Williams]

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