TheGunBlog.ca — Ontario Premier Doug Ford today became the first federal or provincial leader in Canada to oppose Toronto City Council’s proposed confiscation of handguns from federally licensed gun owners.

Separately, a spokesperson for the mayor said the city’s “expectation” is that the federal confiscation of guns from sport shooters will make the sale of ammunition to murderers “moot.” Following is a round up of comments from today.

Doug Ford Rejects Ban

Ford hosted a press conference today to offer $25 million in funding to fight gang violence.

Reporter: I’m wondering if you would support Toronto’s request for a ban on handguns in the city, and if you support the federal government’s look at further restrictions on guns.

Ford: No, you know, I wouldn’t support a ban on handguns. There’s a lot of legal, responsible handgun owners. … We have to refocus all our resources going after the bad guys, not the good guys, but the bad guys. As I said, we’re coming for them. So tell all the bad guys out there, “Heads up, we’re coming to get you.”

Source: Global News and Toronto Star

Tory’s ‘Urgent Plea’ to Confiscate

Toronto Mayor John Tory replied to the Ontario spending plan with an “urgent plea” for the federal government to confiscate firearms from men and women with Possession and Acquisition licences. (He doesn’t need to ask for bans and confiscations from unlicensed people, since that’s already the law.) Excerpt:

Tory: Council also made an urgent plea to the federal government to consider banning the sale and possession of handguns in the City of Toronto and to consider tougher sentencing and bail provisions for gun offenders. Those requests are being actively considered and we look forward to a further response.

Source: Tory’s letter via Twitter

Tory Expects Confiscation

The office of the mayor, in a separate statement later in the day, made a comment that invites interpretation.

• It suggests an assumption or “expectation” that the federal government will ban and confiscate handguns from federally licensed gun owners, such as Olympic competitors and weekend plinkers.
• And

(a) that Peter Plinker and Olympic Olivia are murderers or terrorists, so taking away their weapons takes away the need to stop the supply of ammo.

or

(b) that taking away Peter Plinker’s and Olympic Olivia’s guns will magically prevent the real murderers and terrorists from using their own illegally obtained guns and ammo to fire copper-plated lead into the faces of children and families enjoying Sunday ice cream.

or

(c) both (a) and (b).

In either case, the only way confiscating firearms from all PAL holders will stop violence is if PAL holders are responsible for the violence. But they aren’t. (Please contact me if you see a potential lawsuit or other action for defamation or slander.)

Unnamed Spokesperson: The federal government has made it known they are considering a handgun ban in addition to other gun control measures . . . The mayor supports the ban of ammunition sales, as he voted for at city council. Our expectation is that, with a federal ban on handguns, ammunition will become a moot point.

Source: Toronto Mayor’s Office via Toronto Star

Candidate Keesmat Blames You

Jennifer Keesmat, running against John Tory in October’s election for mayor, also wants to confiscate firearms from PAL holders.

People in Toronto are rightly worried about the gun violence that has plagued our city this summer and before. Handguns should’ve been banned long ago in this city, but a ban isn’t enough on its own. 1/2

— jennifer keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) August 9, 2018

Candidate Goldy Opposes Bans

Faith Goldy, also running for mayor, is the most prominent (maybe the only?) candidate who repeatedly stands up for licensed firearm owners and opposes any confiscation of their firearms.

Ford did a good thing for TO, without a single suggestion from Dopey Tory.

Tory wants a ban on legal handguns & unconstitutional bail conditions… Wrong diagnosis, useless prescription!

Ford‘s investing in bail compliance officers: Boots on the ground!https://t.co/QT9m3256uE https://t.co/MGCoEpPlEO

— Faith J Goldy (@FaithGoldy) August 9, 2018

Bill Blair Sounds Reasonable

Canadian Minister of Border Security and Organized-Crime Reduction Bill Blair spoke to The Canadian Press in an interview published today about how to stop the use of firearms for unlawful violence. Excerpts:

Blair: This is a significant concern for Canadians.

The concern that currently exists in places like Toronto, Surrey, B.C., and other parts of Canada requires that we examine the issue and deal with it in a comprehensive way.

Because I’ve got decades of experience, the prime minister has asked me to provide that focus for our government, to look at every aspect in every ministry so that we address all of the issues related to gun violence and that will enable us to take effective action in addressing it.

We are quite prepared to look at how — in certain parts of the country perhaps — greater restrictions might be implemented. But in addition to that, you have to recognize that in and of itself is not the sole solution.

You have to look at a number of different things and we want to make sure that what we do is what works, and works for Canadians. But we also respect the perspectives that exist right across this country, so it’s not just the consideration of a single place but the consideration of the whole country.

If you look at the difference between gun violence in this country compared to other countries that have less restrictive handgun control, I think it demonstrates that certain aspects of it can work.

At the same time, I think we all share a concern when those firearms get into the hands of violent criminals who are prepared to commit violent acts in our communities and we need to do everything we can do [sic.] keep those guns out of their hands.

Source: The Canadian Press via Toronto Star

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