Is the proposed ban on handguns attacking the symptom or the cause of the problem? For all the public relations the Liberals attempted to gain with this proposed law, the reality is a lot more needs to be done to curb gun-related violence. This includes community centres, well-funded social services, job-training and life-skills programs, we well as enough police resources. Does it strike anyone as opportunistic that we’ve had months of gun-related violence, and it’s only when Paul Martin is trying to save his job that he shows up at the scene of the “crimes”? For insight into this problem, check out Alec Saunders post in which talk shows that Martin is willing to spend $590 million to address 112 handgun-related deaths.
December 12, 2005 at 2:21 pm
The ban on handguns is absurd. The rest of the Liberal proposal lumped in with this regretable headline including more money for border security is less so.
Of course it’s not the legal handgun owners running around Jane and Finch poppin’ caps in each others’ asses nor is there a rash of thefts from these legal gun owners that is arming these urchins. Refining the detection of all types of arms across our borders no matter the source or destination needs to be somewhere amongst our top priorities. If this means treading on the ’sovereign’ first nation reserves straddling the border that are an unmonitored possible entry point of much contraband then so be it.
Ultimately, though, we’ve got to look at the people committing a disproportionate amount of these crimes and hold them accountable. I’ve done enough ’soul-searching’ to feel that perhaps I am not responsible for their plight or actions. Let’s take a good hard look. I’m willing to bet that my Chinese and Sihk neighbours are in no way responsible for any of this violence. So, is there a demographic who is?
January 8, 2007 at 9:37 pm
I think that the gun ban is a fabulous idea to reduce gun violence in Toronto. Mostly because most gun violence doesn’t involve illegal guns. They can be done easily by hand guns. You do not need automatic weapons to kill people, a hand gun can be used just as easily. If there are those who decided to give up on future of their lives by committing murder, unpurchasable gun may stop him.
If this gun ban stopped just one gun violence a year, I think it is worth it. Anyone who oppose the idea… I beg for you to reconsider, because the city and the country where we live in could use less violence even if it’s not very effective. If you knew that the next time another gun violence accurs in Toronto and you were suppose to be the victim, wouldn’t you like the reduce the chance of that even by little?
June 12, 2007 at 11:18 pm
“If you knew that the next time another gun violence accurs in Toronto and you were suppose to be the victim, wouldn’t you like the reduce the chance of that even by little?”
That’s why I like to carry a weapon, ideally a handgun, to defend myself – so that I am not the victim.
Banning guns keeps innocent people from being able to defend themselves, and subjects those who break the law to defend themselves to being treated as though they were criminals instead of good citizens.