Dear Editor
This is in response to "Advised to avoid downtown" (Regional Optimist, July 20
The letter compares North Battleford to much larger cities such as Toronto and London. The issues in those cities are on a much larger scale and in very different surrounding with different situations and people. So, no matter where you go, be it a big or small city, you will have problems like these.
It then said, "I think if the banks and the two or three shops that are located downtown could move out, then it wouldn't matter anymore because all the working class people would not have a reason to go downtown." Does this mean the people who go into pawnshops aren't working class people? That's a pretty strong statement. What about the people who shop the Liquor Board Store. Are they also non-working class people? Who is to say those so looked down upon by the "working clas" don't shop at those two or three shops or use those banks? I guarantee they also frequent the same Walmart, No Frills and Tim Horntons as you and I. Perhaps some people think too highly of themselves and therefore judge every person standing outside of a store or going to a pawnshop in the downtown area as bad people who are not a part of the working class.
I agree there are some shady characters walking around downtown, but I'd have to say it has nothing to do with the businesses downtown. What should be removed are the people causing the problem, not the businesses those individuals frequent.
People shouldn't be so quick to assume the worst of someone. It's stated in the letter the man was approached by another man wanting to sell some tools. He tells the seller to "get lost" and then sees the individual enter a pawnshop. What has been done wrong? The seller asked a question, was refused, so he went into a pawnshop to try his luck. Just because he offered to sell his tools and then went into a pawnshop, this makes a bad person? Why was this man stereotyped as a bad person for his harmless actions? Anyone who has sold to a pawnshop knows they are not going to offer you top dollar. I could also argue the man was stereotyped as a lower class citizen due to location and perhaps the way he was dressed. I can only assume that if the seller was in a suit and tie the man may have had a different view of the situation. I understand the way the seller went about his business is not the norm, but I still see no harm done. If anything, the man may have missed out on a sweet deal.
I don't want this to be misinterpreted as standing up for those people who have caused problems in our downtown area. Anyone who encounters problems they feel present danger to themselves and others should be reporting these incidents to the police, not blaming the pawnshops.
The letter also states a workplace had been broken into, as have many other homes and businesses in our city. Later some of the items were found at a pawnshop. I don't see how this is the pawnshop's fault They didn't tell the anyone to steal. Or is the message: if there were no pawnshops in our city we would no longer have theft crimes? I highly doubt it.
I don't see why pawnshops should suffer for others' wrongdoing. When a stolen item is reported to the RCMP, the officers check Business Watch International to see if it has come into a pawnshop. If it has, the RCMP return it to its owner. Generally the owner does not press charges against the thief. Therefore, everyone wins, except for the pawnshops.
Theft happens everywhere, not just in cities with pawnshops. It is frustrating when you hear these things from people who have probably never set foot in a pawnshop. Focus on the real issues, which are individuals causing the problems. Stop pointing fingers at innocent people and businesses.
Dillon McConnell
