Toronto Mayor Tory Renews Call to Ban Handguns Across Canada

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TheGunBlog.ca —Toronto Mayor John Tory renewed his call to ban handguns from sport shooters across Canada today, less than a week after a Team Canada pistol champion won a spot to compete in the 2020 Olympics.

“We have seen an increase in gun violence across Canada, including right here in Toronto,” Tory said today in a statement, reprinted in full below. “We must do everything possible to limit access to guns – that includes cracking down on gun trafficking across the border from the U.S. and banning handguns here at home.”

Lynda Kiejko of Calgary won gold in her air-pistol match last weekend at the Championship of the Americas in Mexico, enabling Canada to compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Kiejko was one of two Team Canada shooters in the 2016 Olympics after winning gold medals in air pistol and .22 LR pistol in the 2015 Pan Am Games near Toronto.

Read: Lynda Kiejko’s Gold Wins Spot for Canada to Shoot in Olympics

Tory asked Torontonians to tell the federal government they want to eliminate handgun ownership across Canada. The government is consulting the public on the plan until tomorrow.

Prohibition would end the athletic careers of Kiejko and her teammates, destroy thousands of jobs and wipe out hundreds of millions of dollars in assets owned by the country’s 600,000 pistol and revolver shooters. A single Olympic pistol can cost more than $4,000 and require another $1,000 in related gear. High-level competitors need two in case one malfunctions.

All guns are banned already for anyone who doesn’t have a police-approved licence. Anyone who has any firearm without a permit can be sent to prison.

Read: How to Buy a Handgun in Canada: Regulatory and Procedural Steps

If you oppose Tory’s proposal, you can e-mail him at: [email protected]

Optional bcc: [email protected]

https://twitter.com/TheGunBlog/status/1060984602205020160

Don Peat, the mayor’s head of media relations, sent the following statement to TheGunBlog.ca by e-mail today.

CP24 reported the information earlier.

https://twitter.com/TheGunBlog/status/1060894982339477506

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2018

 

Mayor Tory urges residents to tell the federal government to ban handguns

 

Today, Mayor John Tory encouraged all Toronto residents to take part in the federal government’s online public consultation on a handgun ban.

“We know the vast majority of Toronto residents support a handgun ban. It is more important than ever for their voices to be heard as the federal government considers taking this important step that will save lives,” said Mayor Tory. “We have seen an increase in gun violence across Canada, including right here in Toronto. We must do everything possible to limit access to guns – that includes cracking down on gun trafficking across the border from the U.S. and banning handguns here at home.”

The Mayor believes a handgun ban will help reduce gun violence in cities, including in the City of Toronto.

Residents can provide feedback to the federal government online here:
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cnslttns/hndgn/index-en.aspx

The online public consultation is set to end Saturday.

Written submissions can also be made by email at [email protected], fax 613-991-7095, or by mailing your submission to:

 

Attention: Dialogue on Reducing Violent Crime
269 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8
Canada

 

Mayor Tory remains determined to do everything possible to stop gun violence in Toronto – that’s why his administration has led City Council in making investments in neighbourhood policing and community engagement along with hiring more police officers.

Under the Mayor’s leadership, City Council has taken immediate steps to address gun violence in our city and the roots of gun and gang violence.

The Mayor led Council in approving a more than $30 million plan to invest in anti-violence and anti-gang initiatives in communities. We have asked the federal government to contribute to this plan to ensure we are doing all we can – with their help – to make sure our communities are addressing the roots of violence. He has also supported the hiring of 200 more police officers this year and next year along with supporting Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders request to invest in technology to target gun crime.

Following that Council vote earlier this year, Mayor Tory wrote to Prime Minister Trudeau urging the federal government to ban handguns, include tougher penalties for gun trafficking, review and strengthen bail guidelines for those repeat gun crime offenders, and help law enforcement further address gun trafficking both from the U.S. and domestically.

 

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