KNIFE PROVES TO BE MURDER WEAPON OF CHOICE

PUBLICATION: The Edmonton Sun
DATE: 2004.10.18
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: 5
ILLUSTRATION: photo by Darryl Dyck, Special to the Edmonton Sun City
paramedics say the number of stabbing incidents they respond to has
risen above an average of one per day for the first time, with 400
expected by year’s end.
BYLINE: KEITH BRADFORD, EDMONTON SUN

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THE BLADES OF DEATH
KNIFE PROVES TO BE MURDER WEAPON OF CHOICE

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The knives are out on Edmonton’s streets, but police say there’s little
they can do to prevent “epidemic” numbers of blades being carried – and
a huge increase in stabbings.

In 13 of the city’s 22 homicides of 2004, the victims died after being
stabbed. Only six were shot.

And this year, the number of stabbing calls attended by city paramedics
has risen above an average of one a day for the first time.

Emergency medical services had already responded to 274 stabbings at the
end of August – compared to 18 shootings – and the figure is expected to
reach nearly 400 by Dec. 31.

“The statistics speak very loudly and very clearly. They bear out what
we see in terms of a much more casual attitude towards the use of knives
and perhaps a more casual attitude towards life itself,” said U of A
criminologist Keith Spencer.

“Everyone is focused on guns as if they are the only weapon, but knives
are a very, very much more frequently used weapon and they can do some
pretty severe damage.”

Emergency response department statistics show a marked difference in the
number of people treated for gunshot and stab wounds – with 339 stabbing
calls in 2003 and 21 shootings.

While the number of shootings remained stable over the last four years,
stabbing calls rose steadily from 287 in 2000. And at the end of August
this year, paramedics had already dealt with 40 more calls than at the
same time last year.

“We’ve become complacent and it’s sad that we’ve gotten to that because
people die of these injuries,” said ERD medical director Dr. Sunil
Sookram.

“I think as a society we are becoming more accustomed to it,
unfortunately, and … this is where our police colleagues and our
community services organizations have to play a role in helping to
mitigate this.”

But that’s easier said than done.

Sgt. Ray Hogan of the city police officer safety unit, said the number
of knives being carried on the streets is already “epidemic.” But
charging people with possession or concealment of a knife can be
difficult since police need to show it was being carried – or used – as
a weapon.

Spencer said on the sentencing side, courts haven’t made possession or
the use of knives a serious enough offence.

And he said the whole issue was confused in June when the Supreme Court
of Canada acquitted Edmonton Max inmate Jason Kerr of carrying a weapon
dangerous to the public peace, following the stabbing death of another
inmate.

It said Kerr was justified in being armed because of the threat of being
assaulted in the prison.

However, U of A law professor Sanjeev Anand said the use of weapons,
including knives, is already an aggravating factor – and mandatory
minimum sentences aren’t the way to go.

Ratcliff agrees mandatory minimums wouldn’t work, but “stronger
sentencing” is still needed, he said.

At a national level, firearms accounted for 29% of all homicides in
2003. Stabbings were responsible for 26% of deaths.

“We’re not going to be going into everyone’s kitchen and taking knives
out, so they’re going to be there,” said RCMP K-Division Supt. Fred
Kamins. “It just becomes a fact that we have to guard against and carry
ourselves accordingly.”