Posted on 05/27/2008 8:22:14 AM PDT by neverdem
Mayor David Miller wants to close recreational shooting ranges in Toronto, along with giving the city power to block gun manufacturers and wholesalers from opening new plants or warehouses.
"Nobody can deny that hobby directly results in people being shot and killed on the streets of our city," Miller said of sport shooting yesterday, amid debate on a possible gun bylaw.
Canadian Olympic pistol shooter and downtown resident Avianna Chao begs to differ. She says that if Miller gets his way, it could mean an end to her sport – and it won't make the streets one bit safer.
Miller wants to terminate leases with two gun clubs that have shooting ranges on city property, one at Union Station, the other at Don Montgomery community centre.
Chao, who will head to Beijing this summer to compete for Canada at the Olympics, began shooting at Don Montgomery and now trains primarily at the Union range.
"When I heard about this city proposal today it just absolutely knocked the wind out of me," Chao said yesterday.
The gun debate erupted on a day when provincial Attorney General Chris Bentley and Community Safety Minister Rick Bartolucci were writing to their federal counterparts, seeking co-operation on curbing firearm violence.
"As you know, the people of Ontario continue to have serious concerns about the threat posed by guns and gun-related crime in our communities, particularly on the streets of downtown Toronto," Bentley and Bartolucci wrote in a five-page letter to federal Attorney General Rob Nicholson and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day.
They asked for a three-point plan to limit gun violence by:
At the same time, city staff released a report calling for a bylaw that would allow the city to restrict or prohibit the making and wholesaling of firearms in Toronto.
Only police and the military should be allowed to operate firing ranges, the report says, calling for an end to the gun club leases.
Recommendations would apply to all firearms, including rifles and shotguns. But in a scrum with reporters, Miller directed most of his comments toward handguns.
"After John O'Keefe's tragic killing, I don't think there's any defence for sports shooters any more," Miller said, referring to the man shot in January by a stray bullet. The gun was legally owned by the man charged in the killing.
"It's a hobby that creates danger to others. Guns are stolen routinely from so-called legal owners. It's time that we got those guns out of Toronto," he said.
"Do we as a society value safety, or do we value a hobby that creates danger?" he asked. "Nobody can deny that hobby directly results in people being shot and killed on the streets of our city. Those are the facts. And they're provable again and again and again."
Existing makers and wholesalers of firearms would not be affected by any new bylaw. Nor would retailers, as they're governed by federal law. The staff report says as many as 40 per cent of handguns seized by Toronto police were legally purchased but stolen from their owners.
But Chao said shutting down shooting ranges and banning manufacturers has nothing to do with safety. "Gang members don't visit these (shooting) clubs," she said.
"You have to show your licence and all the paperwork. This has nothing to do with gang violence."
Her own guns are safely stored and locked, she said. She's never had a gun stolen. "Anyone should be able to see through this," she said, "that this is the politicians just trying to say they did something, even though it will have no impact on actual gun violence. ... Why don't they go after the gangs? Why don't they go after the illegal trafficking of firearms?"
Chao said Canadian shooters are already handicapped compared with competitors because other countries let shooters train full time. If ranges are shut down, she said, "I don't know how we're expected to compete internationally."
Steven Spinney, firearms safety officer for the Scarborough Rifle Club, was also stunned by the news.
"It doesn't make any sense to be zeroing in on a gun club," he said. "We're an Olympic sport ... I'm not sure how shutting us down would help to cut the gun crime."
Participants are required to take a safety course and the club uses only single-shot rifles.
With files from Vanessa Lu
Lemme guess: the science is settled and we have consensus...
I'm sure he has ample evidence that sport shooters are on the rampage...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It's true! Every Rod and Gun Club is full of drooling murderers!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“Nobody can deny that hobby directly results in people being shot and killed on the streets of our city,” Miller said...
Consider it DENIED, Mr. Miller...
See, someone CAN deny it...
All this “gang violence” must be a media invention...
Yeah, you see a lot of Toronto gangbangers walking around carrying match-grade single-shot .22 rifles... (/eyeroll)
}:-)4
This moron mayor's statement is the equivalent to saying, " Nobody can deny skeet shooting leads to violent crime."
Sooooo, I guess the car racing hobby ALSO results in people being killed in the streets so let's ban cars, too!!
We just hosted two Canadian Scouts from the Toronto area this weekend. One of them really wanted to go target shooting with us, because it’s so unavailable at home. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out because the boys were simply too tired after their campout, and my husband was concerned about safety. However, he showed them our weapons, which they appreciated. I had some great conversations with the older boy (14), who is entirely disgusted with the many restrictions, group-think, and political correctness that have evolved in Canada. I got a kick out of one of his T-shirts: “THINK - It’s Still Legal”.
Everybody knows if we can just get rid of all the guns, crime will disappear. Don’t they?
Are you going to shut down those killer roller coasters, Mr.Mayor?
Meanwhile, over in Montreal, they rioted when the Canadiens got into the playoffs this year. Toronto? No playoffs for them, and probably not anytime soon. Why? Well, look at their mayor! The Leafs got no shooters, no snipers.
On a more serious note, I guess the message here is, in Canada, gun ownership is a hobby. In the USA, gun ownership is a right.
“It’s all happening so fast.”
Cop: “Mr. Sloth, witnesses say you were attacked by a gang of armed snails?
Can you add anything to that for my report?”
“Gee, officer .. I dunno .. it all .. happened.. so .. fast.”
Thank you for making the streets safer for us!
The CRIMINALS
Hey Miller. You freaking fishbrain.
Sport shooting directly results in little holes in paper targets, and sometimes a trophy.
CRIME results in people being shot and killed on the streets of Toronto.
But you knew that already.
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