IF NOT DEAD DEMOCRACY IS AT LEAST SERIOUSLY WOUNDED

How else does one explain an imminent coroner's inquest into the police shooting of Beau Baker still awaiting a date seven years later? Today's Waterloo Region Record has the following lead title on their Editorial page namely: "Hold inquest into Baker's death now". Beau Baker had phoned 911 asking for help. He felt that he was a threat to himself and possibly others. The 20 year old lived on Brybeck Cres. in Kitchener. "A suicidal man with serious mental-health problems, Baker was armed with a knife when police answered his plea for help". My understanding is that "the knife" was a small kitchen knife. The officer fired seven times killing Baker on the spot. ..............................................................................................................................\ A coroner's inquest will not bring Beau Baker back. We are told that it will also not assign blame. The coroner's inquest is to search for better answers to a mental health crisis than dispatching armed police officers who shoot the individual seven times. Surely to God in this day and age there are better supports, help and solutions than either suicide or execution by cop. Obviously no one "wins" in this situation. All society suffers when citizens, family members or friends fear calling 911 on a distraught individual for fear that they are condemning the individual to death. .................................................................................................................... The family of Beau Baker have been treated as callously has he was. They want closure and they want to know that the system has changed to protect vulnerable citizens. Instead all they've received is excuses and delay. Are our authorities pounding home to the Baker family that they are unimportant? That they don't count? That they are powerless? That sure seems to be the case as once again our police, our courts and our legal and political systems look after themselves first and treat victims and their families with disrespect and contempt.