North Vancouver RCMP is warning parents and youth after seeing a marked increase in youth carrying weapons in the community.
In a two-week span, the North Vancouver RCMP’s Youth Support Team (YST) has had over ten interactions with youth who were carrying airsoft guns, knives, or homemade weapons. In one of these instances, officers were conducting proactive patrols on a local trail and located youth who were in possession of makeshift weapons. In another, officers confronted youth with knives and homemade tasers near school property.
“We are extremely concerned with the increase in weapons we are seeing youth carrying,” said Constable Mansoor Sahak, Media Relations Officer for the North Vancouver RCMP. “Weapons such as these can cause disagreements to spiral out of control and can result in an escalated police response that has the potential to ultimately place the public, the youth, and the police in harm’s way.
Police are asking parents to discuss the dangers of carrying weapons with their kids.
“We take the carrying of weapons seriously and should a youth be found in possession of a weapon, they may face significant consequences including a criminal charge,” said Constable Paul Reece with the North Vancouver RCMP’s Youth Support Team. “We encourage parents to have conversations about these types of incidents and reinforce that carrying weapons can only cause harm, there is no upside.”
Possession of an airsoft gun is legal, but criminal charges can be laid if it is concealed or used to threaten, intimidate or assault others.
Yikes! What is happening to our kids?