Dear Editor: This letter is in response to the article by Richard Ostler, “Pedophile to file police complaint.” in the Jan. 24 North Shore News. The article should be retitled “Pity the poor Pedophile." I can’t believe the total disregard for the seriousness of this situation being reported by this newspaper. Sure Mr. Owens is legally free as the rest of us. but nowhere in your article do you choose to report anything but Owens’ and Bristow’s complaints about harassment. - You didn’t even do the community a service by print- ing the address where Owens boards (988 Prospect Ave.). You are trying to portray these convicted child sex offenders as victims and the people of the neighborhood as potential criminals. I would like to set the record straight. " One in four convicted child sex offenders re-offend ‘and get caught. This is a statistic that cannot take into account the re-offenders that gel away with it. With these odds in mind consider the following. Robert Owens was convicted of sexually assaulting three girls aged six to t1. For these crimes Owens served a full six-year term failing in his bids for early release. In his last parole hear- ing. July 94) before mandatory release, the National Parole Board refused parole and described Owens as “an untreated pedophile who needs treatment” and that there are “reasonable grounds to believe he is likely to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another per- son before the expiration of his sentence.” This report was again referred to in November 1994 when a request by Owens to be moved to a minimum security facility was denied. Presently Owens, who is not working, is taking no treatment and spends much of his time with fellow sex offender Danie! Bristow at 4456 Canterbury Cres. Both of these locations (Prospect and Canterbury) are only two blocks from schools and are teeming with children, Our neighborhood is working hard to publicize and solve this high risk situation. Public meetings, poster cam- paigns, petitions, and letter-writing campaigns have been organized. RCMP Insp. Jamie Grahum was only one of * the speakers at the last public meeting. A wealth of information regarding pedophiles was brought to the meeting by guest speaker forensic psychol- ogist Dr. Randy Atkinson. This is a public safety issue concerning children. The laws protecting these child sex offenders need to be changed to protect our children. Robert Owens needs to mové to an adult-oriented neighborhood, get a job and get treatment. Daniel Bristow, because of his age 72, has a diminish- ing risk of re-offending, and would likely experience less stress if Owens moved along. We aren't victims yet and don't intend on being vic- tims. Guess who the potential criminal is. John Armstrong North Vancouver Editor's note: A second article by Richard Ostler about the neighborhood public meeting was published in the Jan. 31 edition of the News. It covers many of the issues outlined in the foregoing letter to the editor. ‘Horrified’ by Collins’ column Dear Editor: . In response to Doug Collins’ arti- cle, “Star Columnist Awakens,” I would like to write that I am horri- fied to read. what he wrote. Considering that this man has access to such a public medium, 1 would ‘hope that ‘his opinions be more ‘ rounded and educated. ' Thad to read the article more than .. Once to see if I had comprehended * Bis-slant on the topic correctly. 1 : found it utterly unbelievable. His ideas, as he himself states, are “sexist, racist, militaristic and polluting.” It is reminiscent of the mentality of the people in power in New York in the 1800s, when they posted signs saying, “Irish need not apply.” His opinions are extremely inflammatory, arrogant, and disre- spectful of anyone non-white. They create hatred and dis-ease in an already tumultuous adjustment peri- od. Yes, it will take time to get to know our new neighbors. We will be dealing with cultural differences. Additional 25% But I believe we can handle it. We can handle it the same way we have handled every single influx of new immigrants, in a country founded on immigrants, There is no need for whining about it. Perhaps Doug Collins should open a “heap of sociological mumbo jumbo” and educate himseif before he throws his weight and his little mind around in the future. Krista Asselstine North Vancouver pe Sale Off our everyday low sale price on all FRAMES With Purchase of lenses. Hurry limited time only. . Premium quality lightweight lenses with CLEAR ‘anti-reflective, scratch resistant & water repellent coatings, Offers a 2 year limited warranty. $35 off Guaranteed Lowest Prices 2 for 1 Soft contact lenses SALE HELD OVER budget details needed Dear Editor: With respect to your article on the dismissal of the North Vancouver school trustees, fT feel that the report offered little information about important issues. A more detailed summary would be important to voters, who deserve some accountability both from the trustees and from the provincial min- ister. I notice that the discussions of cost always seem to be oriented around reduction of teaching staff and reduction of services to students. When are we going to hear about reduction of costs in other types of overhead, specifically the trustees, their offices, and services not related to student support? I suspect that we don’t hear anything about these sorts of reductions because those responsible for such decisions feel they are the most important links in the chain and are immune to reductions. It is also typical of the endemic financial myopia that. budget solu-; tions should be funded by outside sources. The responsibility of the school bourd is to live within its own means. 2 Everyone must realize that overspending is irresponsible. : I would also assume that your editorial policy is to give cats equal weight to severa! thousand people. 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