Not a bad spot

Labrador West has grown greatly over the last few years and many predict that growth will continue; at least for another few years.

Considering the industrial boom the area is experiencing the influx of new residents, the soaring cost of living it’s still a relatively safe place to live and raise families.

Fortunately (knock on wood), there are very few violent crimes that occur–something like two armed robberies in 10 years is not too bad a statistic when you compare to other places.

It seems almost every day there’s a report of armed robberies n St. John’s—usually a gas bar, convenience store, coffee shop, drug store or fast food business.

It’s amazing, really, how business owners can even find people to work in those places—who wants to risk peering down the blade of the knife, barrel of the gun, a tire iron or whatever tool an armed robber may brandish. These workers are mostly all working for minimum wage (or only slightly higher) and they must be asking themselves if the risks are worth it.

There has to be a common denominator as to what prompts this unconscionable behaviour—it’s likely relative to an addiction (drugs, gambling etc.), certainly it’s a desperate act driven by a powerful fuel.

There always seems to be more publicity on the crime committed than of the punishment for the perpetrators. Not much talk of how much jail time these punks are getting, or the ‘stiff’ sentences that are attached to these violent crimes.

Maybe the punishment is not harsh enough to deter this type of criminal. It has to be pure terror for an innocent employee who works to support him/herself (and probably a dependent) to encounter a situation that puts his/her life in jeopardy.  Imagine the ugly fears associated with of such an event that likely lingers for months or even years on a victim.

. If a robbery is labeled armed—it shouldn’t matter if it’s a hand gun or a beach rock, there should be a minimum jail term associated and it should be two years plus a day. -

The full weight of the law needs to come down on these criminals and a slap on the wrist is not about to cut it. If a robbery is labeled armed—it shouldn’t matter if it’s a hand gun or a beach rock, there should be a minimum jail term associated and it should be two years plus a day. When a thief makes a decision to become armed, he/she is prepared to bring bodily damage or death to another individual. And, even if the weapon is just a way to intimidate, that should not lessen the punishment.  A store clerk doesn’t know if a thief is going to pull a trigger or not, the level of fear is still the same.

A rash of robberies are occurring in St. John’s this past month one store was even held up by a robber wielding a hatchet, it’s becoming a scary place to live, a scary place to work for sure.

That’s the beauty of living in a place like Labrador West, even with the economic growth the area; it still has a peacefulness and family-like atmosphere to boast about.  Let’s hope that doesn’t change because when you compare it to other parts of the province, it’s not a bad spot at all.

editor@theaurora.ca