KAMP, BOCKING AGREE ON HAND GUNS

Conservative and NDP candidates in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission
agree on one thing: more is needed than simply a ban on handguns to
stop the slaughter on Vancouver and Toronto streets.

Randy Kamp, running for the Conservatives, says the latest Liberal
proposal is unclear and calls it a "knee-jerk" reaction.

Several measures are needed to fight crime, said Mike Bocking with the
NDP.

"What we need is much stronger penalties for possession of illegal
handguns," he said.

"We need to beef up policing. We need stiffer sentencing for any crime
committed with a handgun."

Prime Minister Paul Martin announced Dec. 8 that handguns would be
banned following an amendment to the Criminal Code. With the
cooperation of the provinces, the ban would be nationwide.

The Liberals also propose doubling mandatory minimum sentences for
trafficking and smuggling weapons and for illegal possession of loaded
weapons in public and want to reintroduce legislation to crack down on
gang and gun crimes.

Bocking wants tough anti-gang laws and personally agrees there should
be minimum mandatory jail sentences for illegal possession of
handguns, although party policy doesn't call for that.

Compared to the Liberals, the Conservative and NDP views on handgun
crime are scant.

According to the NDP website, leader Jack Layton calls for "tougher
border controls, tougher sentencing for weapons offences, and tougher
anti-gang policing, prosecutions and sentencing."

As for bolstering police forces, the Liberals hurt the RCMP in the
1990s by cutting $50 million from the force's budget, Bocking said.
And why doesn't Canada have a better national approach to controlling
the drug trade, he asked?

"Why don't we have a much more robust national drug task force to deal
with that?"

Kamp said the message has to be sent that crimes committed with
weapons have to be responded to with minimum mandatory sentences.

According to the party's website, mandatory jail sentences would
follow weapons and violent offences and drug trafficking, while the
Conservatives would end house arrest for serious offences.

The Conservatives would disband the gun registry and use the money to
bolster police forces. A Conservative government also would strengthen
security at airports and border crossings.

Kamp also favours arming customs officers at the border points. "Right
now, the customs officers don't even have the power of arrest, let
alone sidearms," he said.

He pointed out that in 1999, the Liberals dismantled the ports police,
which tried to control criminal activity and smuggling on the waterfront.

Liberal candidate Keith Henry said his party's recent announcements
are still only proposals that need more work. But he favours a ban on
handguns in which collectors and target shooters would be exempt,
while everyone else would have to forfeit their weapons.

"I just want to assure people common sense will prevail at the end of
the day on this issue, but it has to be addressed one way or the other."

He said people are frustrated that handguns may be banned, but he
points out some of the shootings are taking place with registered weapons.

"Clearly, there's got to be a better way to get a handle on it with
gun control," he said.

Tony Wanstall, who owns a gun shop in Maple Ridge, said news of the
ban hasn't had much effect on sales.

He sold two handguns, which have to be ordered in, in December when
the topic first came up, but considers that more of a coincidence than
a rush by people to beat the ban.

Wanstall disagrees with banning handguns. "The only way you're going
to stop it is to punish the offence."

Henry defended past Liberal cuts to the RCMP and the decision to
disband the ports police as necessary because of Canada's poor
financial situation at the time.

"People forget the country was almost on the verge of fiscal
collapse."

But now that the country is rebounding, there has to be a second look
at such decisions, he said.

Arming customs officers could also be considered, he said. "I think
it's something that has to be looked at seriously."