John Tory wants tougher laws, more money to fight gang-related gun violence in Toronto

Tory, who is attending a gun-and-gangs conference on Ottawa, said that measures should be toughened to ensure authorities are notified when gun traffickers make repeat purchases of firearms.

Thestar.com
March 7, 2018
By Jim Bronskill

The mayor of Canada's biggest city is stressing the need for more money and stronger laws to fight the scourge of gang-related gun violence.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said Wednesday that while Canada generally has tight controls on firearms, there are "some holes that exist in that system."

Measures should be toughened to ensure authorities are notified when gun traffickers make repeat purchases of firearms that end up being sold to criminals who kill, Tory told a national conference on guns and gangs.

"When people are buying multiple guns in any number at all there should be a red flag."

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale convened the meeting of government, police, community and Indigenous representatives against the backdrop of some troubling statistics.

The number of firearm-related homicides in Canada hit 223 in 2016 - up 44 from 2015, and the third consecutive annual increase. There were 141 gang-related homicides in 2016, 45 more than the previous year. Meantime, break-and-enters to steal guns have been rising.

The federal government has earmarked more than $327 million over five years, and $100 million a year thereafter, to address criminal gun and gang activities.

The government is also preparing legislation to strengthen controls on the movement, licensing and tracing of firearms — measures that would repeal some elements of a bill passed by the previous Conservative government.

The mayor of Canada's biggest city is stressing the need for more money and stronger laws to fight the scourge of gang-related gun violence.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said Wednesday that while Canada generally has tight controls on firearms, there are "some holes that exist in that system."

Measures should be toughened to ensure authorities are notified when gun traffickers make repeat purchases of firearms that end up being sold to criminals who kill, Tory told a national conference on guns and gangs.

"When people are buying multiple guns in any number at all there should be a red flag."

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale convened the meeting of government, police, community and Indigenous representatives against the backdrop of some troubling statistics.

The number of firearm-related homicides in Canada hit 223 in 2016 - up 44 from 2015, and the third consecutive annual increase. There were 141 gang-related homicides in 2016, 45 more than the previous year. Meantime, break-and-enters to steal guns have been rising.

The federal government has earmarked more than $327 million over five years, and $100 million a year thereafter, to address criminal gun and gang activities.

The government is also preparing legislation to strengthen controls on the movement, licensing and tracing of firearms - measures that would repeal some elements of a bill passed by the previous Conservative government.