Province needs to do more to combat gun violence, says Liberal MPP

Thestar.com
October 5, 2018
Kristin Rushowy

The Ontario government needs to do more to combat gun violence, says a Scarborough
Liberal MPP who has introduced a private member’s bill to give municipalities the power
to ban the sale of ammunition.

Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) spoke about the issue in the legislature
Thursday -- one day after a teen was killed in a shooting in the Toronto’s east
end in Toronto’s 83rd homicide .

Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) has introduced a motion that
would give municipalities the power to ban ammunition sales.

Hunter said she, along with Progressive Conservative MPP Aris Babikian (Scarborough
Agincourt), “witnessed families walking home from school, gripping the hands of
their children trying to keep them safe.”

Community Safety Minister Michael Tibollo said “our government has and continues to
take action to combat gun and gang violence, restore public confidence and
ensure our streets and communities are safe.”

He also said “it’s not guns that kill people; it’s the people that have guns illegally that kill
people” and noted the province’s earlier announcement of $25 million in funding
over the next four years to fight guns and gangs in Toronto.

Premier Doug Ford has previously said he does not support a handgun ban because it
targets lawful owners, not criminals.

Toronto’s police chief has said that about half of guns used in crimes were legally
obtained and usually sold, or stolen.

Hunter said she continues to hear from concerned residents, worried that these
incidences are “putting everyone in the community at risk and that, in fact, those
that are involved in those criminal activities are not afraid of the police.

“These incidences are becoming more brazen and more prevalent in our communities,”
she told the legislature. “So your investments in police services and in crown
attorneys is welcome but it’s not enough. It’s not enough and it’s not solving the
issue at hand. As a matter of fact, it’s also after the fact.”

Hunter has proposed a bill that would allow any municipality to prohibit handgun
ammunition sales if they want. It’s based on a motion from Toronto council seeking a
handgun ban -- which falls under Ottawa’s jurisdiction -- and another on ammunition, a
provincial issue.

She said the Ontario government also needs to “look at solutions to lower the risk” such
as after-school programming and employment, and to start consulting with youth.

“This government can do more, should do more, particularly because of the results that
we are seeing -- young people are still dying,” she said in an interview.