...so I doubt whether any of the weapons turned in came from the main user group. I will bet that if police had stop and search powers there would be less guns on the streets.
Toronto: Please lay down your arms
There have been 301 shooting victims in Toronto in 2008.
Since 35 of those shot are in the ground, I support any measures to prevent it from reaching 302.
So, when I heard last night that Toronto Police say 300 firearms have been turned in during a special gun amnesty program, I was thinking it's a start. You could probably say the same if there was only one.
Now, no one is trying to claim any of those 300 were involved in the 301 shootings mentioned above.
But what Toronto Police are saying is those guns are now off the street -- no longer at risk of getting into the hands of someone who would use them.
"One of the greatest challenges we face is the far-too-easy availability of handguns and other firearms," Police Chief William Blair said in a statement yesterday.
The fact we have so many shootings is disgraceful -- as is our apathy and acceptance. If you only get interested in shootings on your street or at your pub, don't be surprised when it happens there.
The chief wants you to look inside your own home to make sure a gun hidden away in the basement doesn't end up in the wrong hands. If you don't know what to do with it, he says, call police who will come and get it with no questions asked.
"During our Pixels for Pistols gun amnesty, people can safely dispose of unwanted firearms by contacting the Toronto Police Service at 416-808-2222," says Blair. "They need not fear if the weapon is not registered properly. This is an amnesty. They can be assured that the weapon will be destroyed safely."
In addition, Blair said: "They will receive a camera and photography lessons from Henry's. Most important, their home and their city will be safer."
CAMERA TRADES
Now, I know what you may be thinking. They are going after the legal guns and trading it for a digital camera? What about the illegal ones?
And what's next, Blades for Blades -- free skates for turning in your knife? Whatever works I say.
This amnesty is just one approach and Toronto Police have many other operations. Just last week in the Entertainment District, they took down a weapons operation and have been relentlessly arresting gang members, who are often on bail before the cops turn in their reports.
"We trace every crime handgun we seize," said Blair. "We know that approximately 70% are smuggled into Canada, primarily from the United States. Sadly, 30% of the crime handguns we seize have either been stolen or otherwise obtained from legal gun owners in Canada."
That's three out of 10! And just think about that 301 number. It's staggering considering that in 2007, Toronto Police statistics indicate there were 204 shooting victims.
We have got to stop this because with 57 days left in the calendar year, we could actually see one shooting victim for every day the sun came up.
It's not worth the risk so turn in that gun and get your camera.
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