Life is cheap when there is a lot of money to be made.

That鈥檚 certainly one of the clearest messages to come out of the recent rash of gang-related violence that claimed five lives in a matter of days, earlier this month in the Lower Mainland.

It鈥檚 a clear message, but far from a new one.

For a couple of decades, now, we鈥檝e watched as one after another, young men and, occasionally, women, have been gunned down in gang-related violence in the streets of Metro Vancouver.

And while it hasn鈥檛 reached such a violent stage here in the Comox Valley, we鈥檇 be naive to think we are immune to gang violence.

And for what?

Is the lure of a shiny, expensive new vehicle and a wallet stuffed with cash too much resist, even when the associations required to get it are, let鈥檚 say, less than desirable?

Truthfully, it鈥檚 not all that difficult to understand the attraction gang life holds for men the age of the most recent victims 鈥� who ranged from 29 to just 14 years old.

We live in a world where image is everything and people with millions of 鈥渇ollowers鈥� on social media are actually paid to be 鈥渋nfluencers,鈥� making money just to be seen wearing a certain brand of clothing, drinking a particular type of vodka or driving a specific car.

All of it is designed to create a sense that without money 鈥� and a lot of it 鈥� you just don鈥檛 matter.

Combine that level of lavish excess with the unwavering sense of immortality that comes with youth 鈥� the feeling that nothing can touch you 鈥� and the temptation to earn 鈥渆asy money鈥� must be overwhelming.

The obvious question, and one so far without a satisfactory answer, is what can be done to turn this bloody tide?

Certainly, parents have a fundamental role in helping to guide their children, leading by example, reaching out for support where they can, and having some frank and uncomfortable conversations.

But as long as a new SUV holds more value than a life, they will have a long and difficult road ahead of them.

-Black Press