|
Heather Thomson,
Alberni Valley Times
Published: Friday,
January 16, 2009
Street Smart Kidz is
taking their show on the road.
The group, which started
three years ago in Comox, prides itself in helping
parents and kids stay safe. In the past they have been
extremely successful providing parents with the tools
and help they need to keep their children safe.
But Steven Baird,
managing director of Street Smart Kidz Canada, wants to
go one step further. He is leading the charge to take on
Canada's legal system when it comes to sentencing and
releasing sex offenders. To do that he is hitting the
road, travelling from one coast to the other gathering
signatures on a petition asking for stricter sentencing
for sex offenders.
"We feel it is time to
change our vision," he explains. "This is something we
feel is important to address."
He says they do
everything they can to protect children, but when the
court system is releasing sex offenders early they can't
help parents.
He says after they are
convicted most criminals know how to work the system -
they play nice, take some programs and get out early.
"And then they reoffend,"
Baird adds.
The early release dates
are what he hopes they can stop.
"I took a look at how it
works, and I said somebody's got to do something - this
has gone on long enough."
Baird had planned a stop
in Port Alberni this weekend to gather signatures, but a
family emergency has made that impossible. He says now
there's no guarantee they will have time to come to the
Valley, so he is hoping people from this side of the
Hump will go online to sign their petition.
Their goal is to get at
least 10,000 names from each province. That would add up
to 100,000 signatures. He says already they are on the
right track. So far they have gathered support from
approximately 3,000 people.
"I think we'll have
10,000 before we leave the Island," he says, "But we
need Port Alberni's help."
To sign the petition go
to www.streetsmartkidz.ca and print off a petition and
then simply stick it in the mail.
Baird and his team will
spend six months on the road gathering signatures. After
that, he plans to present the petition to the
politicians who can make a difference.
"I'm going to go to the
justice minister and show him we are serious," he says.
"I know that I'll be heard, I just don't know if
something will be done."
He says all they can do
is gather the signatures and hope for the best outcome.
If you want to show your
support go to www.streetsmartkidz.ca.
HThomson@avtimes.net
? Alberni Valley
Times 2009
|
