Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and members of the committee.
My name is Jackie Cobb and I'm here to speak on behalf of my 23-year-old daughter, Madison Cobb, whose life was brutally taken away from her by her ex-boyfriend on July 19 in a parkade in Calgary. Before Madison could get into her car to come home to her family, she was gunned down by her ex-boyfriend, leaving her dead at the scene.
In thinking of my Maddie, think of your own daughter, sister or niece. Now picture them left to bleed to death with no one there to help them. Imagine their fear.
My Maddie was a bright, passionate, respectful, cheery and accomplished young lady. She excelled academically, was a competitive swimmer and had just begun a promising career as a surgical eye assistant at LASIK MD. Her life was full of potential. Madison deeply impacted and connected with people. She was on a mission to save individuals who needed saving, even if it was just helping, guiding or being a friend to those who didn't have one. She was always there when called upon, always lending a hand and never complaining to help others. She was a girl with strong family values. She was a best friend, and always saw the bigger picture in life. She was an old soul, acting beyond her years. She cared about people, something most of us have lost throughout the years. Although she is no longer with us, today Madison continues to try to help others.
By appearing before you, I represent her desire to find justice in a system that failed her when she needed it the most. My Maddie followed every legal avenue to ensure her safety. A restraining order was granted on June 10 against her offender, who also had two criminal harassment charges against him for stalking her. He was released on bail on June 10 and June 17. He was known to have a firearm in his possession as well. The restraining order did not do its job. It was a piece of paper with meaningless words. The judge knew about the criminal harassment charges and the firearm when Madison was finally granted the restraining order, yet nothing stopped her offender from walking out of the court, free to plan and carry out this horrific act.
Madison deserved to live without fear. She was not protected by the system. Madison became a victim of a violent crime and paid the ultimate price. This was not a moment of anger. Every action was calculated. He stalked her. He waited for her, and he executed his plan. The nature of this deliberate act should automatically remove any possibility of bail or leniency. He chose to take her life. He should be held accountable.
I stand here before you on behalf of Maddie and the thousands of women and men who have been impacted by domestic violence. Maddie is not the first person to suffer at the hands of the legal system, and she will not be the last unless a stand is taken to change the current system.
Please, I urge Parliament to enact stronger consequences for repeat offenders and those who breach protective orders. Early intervention, such as mandatory evaluations and monitoring the offenders, could prevent escalation and save lives. We must prioritize the right to live a life protected by law, in safety from such criminals.
How many innocent people need to die like my young daughter Madison for legislation to change?
We all know the law is broken. We hear that legislation might change, but it never does. Parliament has the knowledge, the power and the authority to make the necessary changes to implement stronger sentencing now, before more innocent lives are taken. The system needs to change. Why are we so forgiving? Why do we give the offenders so many chances? The criminals know our system and its loopholes, and they are taking advantage of it. Please protect the innocent. Criminals should not have the same rights as you and me.
My life has changed forever. I will never see my child walk through that front door with her incredible smile, knowing she is safe. I can't kiss her goodnight, say, “I love you” or call her when something is exciting. I won't have the joy of seeing her walk down the aisle or having kids of her own. All I have left are photos and videos to help remember every detail of her appearance and listen to her voice on tape so that I can hear how she spoke my name. I hold her clothes so tight, so that I can remember how she smelled, and I hum her favourite song in my head all the time because I don't hear it blaring from her room any longer.
Now I have to look at an empty chair at my dining-room table where she sat when we ate. I walk past her room with a constant sadness of the good times we shared in that room. There will be no more treasured family vacations we loved taking together. Now I have a constant worry that my family will fall apart because of this crime, as so many other families have.
I stand here today to advocate for change so that no other family endures this pain. You never think it will happen to you until it does. You can make the difference. Hold them accountable on their first offence so that this tragedy doesn't become your nightmare, a nightmare I am living for the rest of my life.
Thank you.