Wanganui gang shooting of toddler a symptom of “offender-centred rights”:
Press Release: Direct Democracy Party.
“The tragic gang shooting of a 2-year old toddler in Wanganui is yet another symptom of “offender-centred rights” in New
Zealand law, whereby criminals now no longer fear roaming the local streets with firearms and letting them off at each
other indiscriminately” says Direct Democracy party Leader, Kelvyn Alp.
“The cacophony of the “something must be done” hand wringing brigade by various political leaders and commentators is
ear splitting, disingenuous and too little, too late for the family of this child, and yet these same politicians and
commentators refuse to seriously consider real solutions to these problems" says Mr Alp.
"New Zealand’s current law and order situation is unacceptable. We have a high level of violent crime; Police resources
are stretched and our prisons are full. A multi-faceted approach is required to address these problems. Such an approach
would address issues such as families in poverty; parental education; our failing school system; youth unemployment;
societal disconnectedness; making punishment actually mean punishment for crimes committed, and supporting parents to
appropriately discipline their children".
“The Police need to be freed up to spend less time on nonsensical administration, and more time actually being visible
and available to the people of New Zealand – and that includes stepping on the collective throat of gangs” says Mr Alp.
“Prisons are for punishment, not privileges; criminals give up a number of “rights” when they go to prison, including
their freedom to privacy, and their freedom to associate with the outside world – facilitating these erroneously
labelled “rights” for prisoners whilst they are incarcerated is a core reason why a steady flow of cell phones, drugs,
assaults, and bribing of prison guards is occurring in prisons around the country”.
Facilitating these same “rights” for gang members, who long ago thumbed their collective noses at any semblance of civil
society, is essentially enabling more of the same tragedies as that visited upon Wanganui to occur again” says Mr Alp.
ENDS