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Once upon a time, a gangster’s family was sacred.

It was a time-honoured Mafia rule that was respected upon pain of death.

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No more.

The latest victim of the internecine warfare ravaging southern Ontario’s gangland was Cece Luppino, 43, who was fatally shot outside his parents’ Hamilton Mountain home Jan. 30.

Cops say the victim — recently married — had nothing to do with the Luppino crime family, had no record and wasn’t known to police.

Longtime underworld observer James Dubro said it appears to be open season on the family members of mobsters.

It now appears the established crime families are taking it in their soft underbelly — family members who may only have a fleeting acquaintance to underworld machinations.

It’s not like Luppino couldn’t have become a made member of the Mafia. He was captured on audiotape sensibly saying there wasn’t enough money and “there are too many headaches.”