Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Criminal with Loaded Gun on SkyTrain — But It’s Farepayers Who Get Harassed

Criminal with Loaded Gun on SkyTrain — But It’s Farepayers Who Get Harassed

Yesterday, a man wearing a ballistic vest and carrying a loaded handgun was arrested at Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station. He had prior criminal history. He was caught by Transit Police — who usually spend their time checking fares, not catching armed criminals.

Think about that. This man shouldn’t have even been on the street. Meanwhile, countless farepayers — including youth and vulnerable populations — are stopped, fined, harassed, and sometimes detained… for missing a fare or tapping incorrectly.

Where is the real public safety?

Why are Transit Police and the entire TransLink enforcement system built around squeezing fare dollars out of the poorest people — instead of keeping loaded guns off the trains?

This story should outrage everyone who believes in real public safety, equity, and accountability.


🔁 Reflective Questions:

  1. Who benefits from the current fare enforcement system?
  2. Why is it easier to criminalize a missed fare than to stop someone carrying a loaded gun?
  3. What would a truly safety-focused transit system look like?
  4. How could fare revenue be collected fairly without policing poor people?


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