JOIN THE OUST WALLY MOVEMENT

Where's Wally? Attorney-General Wally Oppal

given 30 days to take action on gang violence in Metro Vancouver or face call to resign

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column

Tuesday February 10, 2009

Stop the gangs

By BILL TIELEMAN


People need to know our streets are safe.

- B.C. Attorney-General Wally Oppal, Feb. 4, 2009

Gangsters killed Kevin LeClair with submachine gun fire and riddled cars with stray shots in a Langley IGA store parking lot Friday in broad daylight.

Raphael Baldini, linked to B.C.'s worst gang massacre, was shot dead in Surrey's crowded Guildford Mall parking lot last Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Breanna Kinnear was shot to death in a car in Coquitlam the same day.

Last Monday, James Erickson was gunned down in a Whalley apartment.

And on Jan. 27, Andrew Cilliers was shot to death in his driveway in Surrey.

Yesterday, a 28-year-old was shot several times in an IGA parking lot at Broadway and Arbutus.

There is a murderous gang war raging in Metro Vancouver, the public is at grave risk and where's Wally?

Does the B.C. government's Attorney-General actually think our streets are safe?

People are being shot to death in public places by criminals acting with complete impunity.

Citizens are at risk - why isn't more being done by Oppal and the B.C. government?

What will it take - because already too many innocent victims have died.

That's why Steve Brown has given Oppal an ultimatum: Do something to end the violence within 30 days or he will campaign for the Attorney-General's firing.

Brown has been deeply scarred by violence.

His brother-in-law Ed Schellenberg was servicing a fireplace in a Surrey apartment when gangsters arrived and shot him execution-style, along with four occupants who were involved in the drug trade and another innocent victim - young Chris Mohan, a neighbour who accidentally happened on the scene.

Ironically, Baldini rented the apartment Schellenberg died in. Now he's dead too and the killers remain free.

"I've lost my patience with Wally Oppal," Brown told me Saturday when he publicly gave Oppal 30 days to find a solution or else.

"If Wally Oppal can't find a way to stop the gang slayings and the murder of innocent victims who are in their way, then he should resign as Attorney-General or be fired by Premier Gordon Campbell," Brown said.

Brown is furious that gangsters facing serious charges are let out on bail and commit more violent crimes.

"We're demanding answers - why are all these criminals running loose?" he said.

I agree. It's time for British Columbians to tell Oppal that the lack of action to make our streets safe again for citizens is totally unacceptable.

You can send that message to the B.C. Liberal government by joining my new Facebook protest group:

Where's Wally? BC Attorney-General Oppal has 30 days to end gang violence.

Just go to www.facebook.com and type in Wally Oppal in the Search box to get there - or click on the Where's Wally? link above.

If you aren't on Facebook, you can easily join.

But please - send a message today: Help stop the killing now.

.

ALFRED E. NEWMAN, A-G

In another stroke of genius and high civic responsibility, W. Opaque, continuing his masquerade as the Attorney-General, has put the blame for gang violence sharply on the shoulders of thee and me.

Apparently, according to Mr. Daily Quote, we are not reporting enough crime and we are not telling everything we really know.

And, besides, what me worry?

According to Mr. I've Got an Answer for Everything, the statistics compiled by some academics in eastern Canada reveal that we actually live in a crime-free Eden.

Each new day, W.O. brings new sunshine to cut through the gloom and flurries.

Excuse me, while I don my flak jacket to head over to the IGA for some lettuce.

Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll also find some RHUBARB!

HOW MUCH OF A MUCHNE$$ IS TOO MUCH?

Whether you are an NDP supporter or not, the online petition called "End the Secrecy on Olympic Spending" is worth a look.

You can not only add your name to a long list, but add your thoughts.

Today's headlines include more revelations about the true costs of security for the Games.

And here's a suggestion for all the powers that be.

You know all those military and para-military folk who are going to be circling about in their hornets and hawks and other WMD?

Maybe they could arrive early and stick around afterwards to do something about the Little Chicago in the Twenties that we've got going here.

A helicopter visit or two might just keep our IGA's safe for grocery shoppers.

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