OTTAWA
— The Harper government unveiled new legislation it says will combat
violence by gangs, including making homicides tied to organized crime
automatically carry a first-degree murder charge.
Other measures will
crack down on drive-by shootings and attacks on police officers.
“No part of our society is immune to the menace of organized criminal
activities,” Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said as he announced the move at
Ottawa's police headquarters.
The move comes in the wake of a string of shootings in B.C.'s Lower
Mainland, a key voting base for the Tories. There have been 18 shootings
since January 20 and eight of the deaths arising from this violence are
suspected of being gang-related.
Creating a new offence to target drive-by shootings and “other reckless
shootings. It would carry a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison,
with a maximum of 14 years. The minimum sentence would increase if the offence
was committed on behalf of a criminal gang or with a handgun.
Creating two new offences of aggravated assault against a police officer and
assault with a weapon against a police officer. This would be punishable by
maximum penalties of 14 and 10 years respectively.
The minority Conservative government will need the support of one opposition
party to pass the justice bill.