Key takeaways:
- The city witnessed three shootings within three days the prior month.
- Residents say binding actions should be taken to respond to escalating gun brutality in Laval.
- They had a rally outside the Raymond-Fortin community center on Saturday.
Laval’s citizens and community organizations say urgent actions ought to be taken to deal with the climb in gun violence this summer.
Many say they’re feeling shocked after the shooting this Wednesday at a restaurant in the city’s Vimont neighborhood that led to the demise of a 42-year-old man. Before month the city also saw three shootings within three days.
“The kids are afraid. They’re scared to come out, terrified to play, scared to do things,” stated Rodney Dorvelus, a community worker at the Bureau de consultation jeunesse. This community center concentrates on supporting young people’s autonomy.
“They’re nervous about being at the wrong place at the wrong time,” stated Dorvelus, who helped arrange the demonstration outside the Raymond-Fortin community center on Saturday.
“I’m not only talking about kids but young adults also.”
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Others worry parents might not feel as safe getting their kids to community centers in some places. Lucie Lanthier said a few weeks back; gunshots were heard near the Raymond-Fortin community center, just down the street from an elementary school.
“It’s disturbing,” said Lanthier, who works as the general manager with Loisirs Renaud-Coursol. The community center operates out of the building and runs a day camp.
“All of the bullets fired here a couple of weeks ago, approximately 10 minutes before the bell tingled at the elementary school,” she said.
Josée Beaudet said she no longer feels secure in her community after hearing shots footsteps away from her house.
“The shooting happened just before I lived,” she stated. “I’m not feeling confident. For me, for my daughter.”
Source – cbc.ca
