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Updated: September 04, 2009 9:37 AM
If the public was hoping for evidence that the courts were taking the growth of gun crimes more seriously, it didn’t see it last week.
Last Friday, Joshua Quinlan – who had admitted to firing eight shots at a group of fleeing teens, killing one and injuring two others – was sentenced to three years, 11 months, in addition to the 12 months already served.
The judge cited several factors in reaching the decision, including Quinlan’s clean record, apparent remorse, and legal precedent.
None of those factors is likely to satisfy the friends and family of Zachary Hobeck, the 17-year-old who died that night.
Quinlan had armed himself before heading out. When a confrontation with the teens ensued, he drew his gun as the group was walking away. Fortunately Quinlan, who was drunk at the time, dropped the gun. When it hit the pavement one of the youths was able to warn the others and the teens ran.
Nonetheless, Quinlan opened fire, emptying the semi-automatic into the group. He struck three of them – Hobeck fatally.
A report released by Statistics Canada last year noted a steady increase in the use of guns by young people in the commission of a crime – two-thirds of those crimes involved handguns.
Indeed, watch any movie, or play any video game and the gun culture that permeates our culture is evident. Handguns are the new bling of the gangsta generation.
What games and music videos don’t show, however, is the reality of these weapons.
Bullets fired from weapons like the .40 calibre Smith and Wesson handgun used by Quinlan do an incredible amount of damage when the 10mm shell strikes home.
They are not toys. And anyone who fires the weapon into a group of people should pay a price for either that malice or that stupidity.
Quinlan told the court he’s sorry for what happened.
And no doubt he is.
But sometimes being sorry isn’t enough.
Society needs to send a message that it will not tolerate the attitude that gun fire is an appropriate response. Shooting at teens as they attempt to run away is a cowardly and callous act that should bring sharp and unambiguous repercussions.
That message wasn’t delivered on Friday.
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