SHOOTINGS UP, AS TRUDEAU’S GUN BAN MISSES TARGET
When Justin Trudeau announced his massive gun ban, back on May 1, he told the country that he was doing it to tackle gun violence, and to make Canada safer.
“Every single Canadian wants to see less gun violence, and safer communities. So today, we take another big step forward.” Trudeau said. “Enough is enough. Banning these firearms will save Canadian lives.” Trudeau’s Public Safety Minister, Bill Blair stated emphatically.
TOO BAD IT ISN’T WORKING! 😯
Between May 1 and Sept. 6, shootings were up in Canada’s largest city. So were the number of people killed by guns. In total, between when Trudeau announced his ban and Labor Day weekend, Toronto saw 208 shootings with 92 people injured, and 14 people killed. In that same time period for 2019, there were 185 shootings, 92 injured, and 12 people killed.
Did Trudeau forget to take aim at criminals, when trying to tackle the gun crime that is the real issue in many cities across Canada??
When Trudeau banned 1500 guns, or variations of rifles that he described as “military-grade assault weapons,” he wasn’t banning guns that are used in crime; he was banning guns used in hunting or at the gun range by licensed owners.
Since May 1, hundreds more firearms have been added to the banned list, even though they are shotguns or bolt-action rifles. These are firearms that are used for hunting, not by criminals. “Zero impact” is how Marcell Wilson summed up Trudeau’s gun ban on the gang violence plaguing our biggest cities.
Wilson should know; he used to be part of that world, smuggling guns and running his own organization. Now he’s turned his life around and operates One By One, an organization that helps people get out of the gang life.
He said banning these rifles won’t stop the shootings, because gangs rarely – if ever – use them. “Definitely handguns of small calibre in my day was ideal. Easy to conceal and easy to throw away if need be.” Wilson said.
Former Toronto Police Detective Mark Mendelson, who spent 14 years as a lead investigator on the city’s homicide squad, said he agrees with Wilson when it comes to Trudeau’s gun ban aiming at the wrong target. “These are not the guns used in crimes that involve the gangs. They’re running around with Glocks, Smith and Wessons, semiautomatic pistols.”
What Trudeau has banned were the guns with no history of crime in this country, claiming that it would stop the shootings. The numbers show that is not the case. Shootings are up 12.5% this summer compared to the same period in 2019, and 24% higher than what was recorded in 2018. Compared to summer of 2015 – the summer just before Trudeau was elected – shootings are up 83% in Toronto.
This was never about keeping Canadians safe or reducing gun crime. This was about Trudeau looking like he was taking strong action when he wasn’t. Shootings have been up during his entire tenure in office, and he hasn’t been able to deal with it.
Gun crime is a very real issue in Canada, but the Federal Liberals seem to forget the crime part, and only focus on the gun part. Tracking down criminals and getting them to hand over their guns is difficult. Tracking down licensed gun owners is much easier.
The Government plans to spend more than $600 million – could be more than $1 Billion – to pay legal gun owners to hand over their now-banned rifles and shotguns. Rather than spend this amount of money on something that has no chance of reducing gun crime, just a portion of it spent on groups like Wilson’s could go a long way towards dealing with the root problems.
C’mon Justin, it’s time to aim your efforts at the right target.
Archon's Den 