Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Editorial

Media Credit: Shazia Khan Has the city's gun crime gone hog-wild? Miller tries to sweep the issue under the rug

It's been a long time since Toronto has been referred to as "Hogtown." Over the past century it has grown, cleaned up, industrialized, and transformed. Its mosaic culture has reached international status. By this, I mean that even Americans have begun to recognize the city. But my hometown just might be sinking to a new level of swine.

Ontario's capital has become increasingly more violent in recent years. The past two weeks have hosted a noticeable amount of bloodshed for a city whose mayor claims the town is getting increasingly safer. While David Miller affirms crime rate is down, he admits that this is only true with the exception of gun crimes.

Friday, March 28th, a girl in her late teens was shot in the subway between the Spadina and St. George stations. This happened after a senseless argument about 'disrespect' between her and the male shooter, whom she reportedly pulled a knife on. Initially, news outlets reported she had been injured as an innocent bystander caught amidst a gang shooting.

Saturday, March 30th, police released footage of the March 14th shooting at the Dufferin and Lawrence apartment complex. Owen Anthony Smith has a nation-wide warrant out for his arrest. The video clearly shows a figure, suspected to be Smith, walking up and shooting six individuals, five of which were injured; one, eighteen-year-old Abdikarim Ahmed Abdikarim, was killed.

Friday, April 4th, a man in his forties was discovered at the foot of a tree impaled, via his rectal area, on a metal post. He claims to have fallen while attempting to escape a robbery. His criminal past is in question. Like something out of a television show, he had to be taken to Sunnybrook Hospital with the post still inside of him.

These are just a few notable cases of violence in recent weeks. On a more general note, according to a municipal report, the amount of kids aged 12-17 engaged in gun-related crimes has increased by 32% in the past six years.

How, might we suppose, are city officials dealing with all of this? While the police must, undeniably, be working around the clock, Toronto's mayor chose last week of all times to announce his departure for a train-trip around China. On the city's tab, of course.

While Miller is officially travelling to China to discuss trade issues, recent public discussions seem to be dominated by speculations that the trip is actually about getting an opportunity to speak about violations of human rights. Though this is an issue worth fighting for, what exactly does Miller think he's going to accomplish in China? Whatever opinion he has of the Chinese's actions in Tibet will carry little weight. It's not as though he's the Prime Minister. Contrariwise, Harper happens to be taking the opposite route to Miller, as rumours swarm about a potential Canadian boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

Our not-so-lovely city is showing signs of rivalling American crime (which Canadians always mock, quoting the USA's "right to bear arms"), and the man running the scene seems to have essentially decided to take a vacation. Even the Globe and Mail seems to agree with me: on Saturday, April 5th, they juxtaposed the article about the impaled man with one detailing Miller's criticisms of China.

I suppose the Olympics Committee showed unpredictable foresight in passing over Toronto as host of the 2008 summer games.

It is miraculous that, in just one week, a city in which I have always felt comfort now sets me with a feeling of unease. True, violence did not suddenly appear, but it did suddenly emerge at a place my fellow students and I pass by nearly every day - the Spadina subway. It did happen in quick succession and with increasing senselessness. There does appear to be a problem of escalation here.

It is no overreaction on my part to feel some sense of shock after recent violent events. On the contrary - the fact that I barely noticed Toronto crime before last week acts as evidence that we operate in our own protected social circles. Call me sheltered, but I am not the only one who feels this way. There must be a lot of sheltered people in our city.

No, Toronto is no Harlem. It is no Jerusalem. It is no Kabul. When inquiring if the city is truly a dangerous place, most jump to retort, "What major city isn't?" But, commonality should not mean Torontonians accept a downward path to disarray.

Since I am not the first to criticize the municipal government, it may now be unfair to say Miller is just taking a vacation when the city is up in arms (literally). On April 7th, our mayor released a video message online urging people to sign a petition calling for the ban of private ownership of handguns.

Officials aren't the ones ignoring the situation, though. Apathy among Torontonians seems to be the main problem here. Ignoring the city's crime and maintaining a false sense of security is nothing short of ignorant and naive. It does not make anyone any safer, nor does it help fix the situation. What these past few weeks brought seems to have been a little unease and, hopefully, some wakeup calls.

As students, we should be particularly concerned considering current events like the Virginia Tech shooting last spring. It may have happened in the States, but it has equal potential to occur here.

The success of Miller's petition will evince how Americanized our society really is. The issue still remains, though, that instead of remaining in town and pushing this ban he is proposing, he's jetting off to East Asia.

What we all need is to wake up and smell the dirt in the streets! Toronto of old did not die with the new pavements, expansive skyscrapers and capital investment. The tangible façade only covers up the social deformity present here.

This is still the same old Hogtown. The only difference is that now, we have more advanced weaponry.

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