VANCOUVER — An anti-gang rally in suburban Vancouver was told Sunday that B.C. will show zero tolerance for gun offences and “take back the streets” from gangs.

B.C. prosecutors will seek jail time for any offence involving guns, said B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen, to applause from the crowd of about 500.

“Prosecutors will ask that no bail be granted for any gun-related offences,” van Dongen said. “We will pursue every gun offence to the maximum.

“You’ve had enough. We’ve had enough. We’re going to take our streets back,” he said.

The rally was held to address a spate of 12 shootings in 16 days in Metro Vancouver.

Surrey, B.C. organizers Paul Hillsdon and Trevor Loke said the community needed to come together to rally against violence.

“We’re all very angry. Today, everybody here is a neighbour and we’re all here to support each other,” said Loke.

Signs included “Judges are the problem” and “Stop the violence, United for change.”

Relatives of crime victims told the crowd that violence must stop now.

The biggest applause was reserved for Eileen Mohan, mother of Chris Mohan, an innocent victim who was killed in the gang-related Surrey Six murders in 2007. No charges have been laid.

“We thought our neighbours were innocent. We never questioned their presence,” she said.

“The gangs know they can use the Charter of Rights to set themselves free. They have more rights than we do,” said Mohan.

“We need to tell the MPs that this is not good enough. If you cannot do the job, step down and let someone else do it. We have to get our safety and security back. We have to change laws to fight gangsters,” she said.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said parents need to be smarter about what their children are up to.

“When kids come home with wads of cash and are being picked up by $200,000 vehicles, parents should see a red flag,” she said.

“Some kids are not bad kids, but they’re being pulled into gang activity. We need to be there for children going down the wrong path,” she said.

Local New Democrat MLA Bruce Ralston said “darkness has gathered around us.”

“Our region has been called the gang capital of Canada. Unfortunately, that’s right.

Enough is enough. We want to be known as the family capital of Canada, or something else that’s positive,” he said.

Steve Brown, brother-in-law of Surrey Six murder victim Ed Schellenberg, who was also innocent, said justice in B.C. is “mal-administered.”

“There has been no arrest, no trial, no conviction, no sentences and no justice,” he said.

“It’s getting worse. B.C. is a have-not province in respect to justice. Sadly, I believe we are experiencing a leadership void. We must confront lawlessness,” said Brown.

Liberal MLA Dave Hayer, whose father was murdered in 1998, called for those charged with gun-related offences to “stay in jail.”

“It’s about time to say we will not take it anymore,” he said. “Victims are more important than criminals.”

Van Dongen and B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal will travel to Ottawa this week to meet with federal officials about tougher laws for guns and gangs.

Vancouver Province

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