Welcome to Toronto, Canada – where gangs run freely, shooting it out in the middle of Boxing Day crowds, nightclubs or at the nearest convenient day care centre.
Toronto: Where Prime Minister Paul Martin thinks that last night’s public murder wouldn’t have taken place if law only abiding citizens were denied handguns.
Toronto: Where an off-duty police officer wounded in last night’s gunfire was unarmed because police are prohibited from carrying their weapons off-duty. Mayor Miller doesn’t trust police officers that much.
CBC made the mistake of interviewing a local minister (baptist, I believe) about the problem and no matter how she manipulated the interview, he kept going back to teen moms, irresponsible parenting, the cycle of poverty that is the result, and the culture of rap that promotes the culture of screwing teen girls to prove manhood and walking away from the fallout. He wouldn’t budge, and she was looking to blame lack of whatever it is the left is blaming these days.
The quote of the day: Toronto has finally lost its innocence!
I live on Yonge street, not too far north of Dundas Square. Finally lost its innocence…are we that blind that it takes an event like yesterday to say something that prophetic?
My husband has been talking about getting his handgun, which is safely locked up at his uncle’s ranch in Sask., because he is sick of not feeling safe. A handgun ban is the fix…right, because law abiding citizens should be left vulnerable like sheep in a pasture; anything less wouldn’t be the Canadian way.
We have perfect models of how to end this crap to our south. New York, Buffalo and Detriot have all dealt with this. Why not use their models? Because that would require giving our police more power, and we can’t do that, because that wouldn’t be the Canadian way.
So instead, law abiding citizens are gunned down, and we are just supposed to stand back and wear targets on our chests saying: Shoot me, the law won’t touch you! I’m so sick of this.
Lost Budgie hit it on the head. Welcome to Mayor Miller’s Toronto – land of the soon to be innocent bystander.
It’s all over CNN, so there might be some action simply because the governments of all lvels might no care about Canadian citizens, but they sure do care about the almight tourist buck. Good for CNN for their in your face coverage, which, on most days gives me dyspepsia. But today, I’m so proud to be a Canadian, knowing that we have a Charter that will make sure these little foockers get the best legal aid my money will buy.
Nearly on topic, looks like former Montreal Expo pitcher Jeff Reardon is going with the “Sven Robinson” defense:
Reardon charged with armed robbery
Former All-Star reliever blames medication for arrest
Jeff Reardon, one of the top relief pitchers in history, blamed medication for depression after his arrest for a jewelry store robbery.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/12/27/bc.bba.reardonarrested.ap/index.html
My $0.02 worth. The Liberal gun policy of the last ten years is not at fault here. I lived in Toronto years ago under the old gun control program and in the twenty years there I cannot remember any public shootings comparable to what has happened in the last year or so. I’m afraid that the causes of this violence are the left-leaning liberal criminal enforcement policies and the unfettered liberal immigration policies. Until the majority of 416 get their heads out of Trudopia this type of violence will escalate. You cannot police a city that is out of control without a lot of bloodshed, look at Chicago in the ’20’s and ’30’s. When 99% of the population are forced to go unarmed, and off-duty police officers are not allowed to carry weapons then the criminal element have been handed an ‘open season’ for their profession, and we are all going to suffer for this in the future.
BTW, Warren Kinsella advised John Tory on winning that election.
Folks, I think Toronto has had a bad deal from the deck. First, SARonto/SARSonto. Now this.
When the CPC gets in I want to see these things happen in this area:
– Scrap the stupid gun law. All guns should be registered at time of purchase. No problem with that. Anyone with a record needs to apply to the police. Law-abiding citizens need only fill out a form at time of purchase.
– Add to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms the right to bear arms.
– Add to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms the specific right to self defence.
– Change the criminal code to make a crime with a gun punishable with an extra 6 years added to whatever sentence is handed down for the original crime. No exceptions.
– Change the criminal code to include deportation to the perpetrator’s country of origin for serious crimes that involve a gun immediately upon release from prison. No appeal allowed.
– Change the criminal code to include deportation for any illegal immigrant who is a member of a street gang, regardless of the charge, immediately upon release from prison. No appeal allowed.
– If a criminal enters Canada illegally after being deported they go right to jail for a time specified in the original sentence and then deported again. No appeal allowed.
– Properly fund the RCMP to hire more officers.
Can’t think of anything else right now but I’m sure I missed something. This post doesn’t address other issues like funding for the armed forces, etc. That’s another post.
If the Federal government, RCMP and Canadian Courts are unable to address these issues then each province has the right to address them on their own. If these issues prove impossible for the next Federal government, be it CPC or Liberal, then the next provincial government elected to Alberta needs to address them, separation or not. The Notwithstanding Clause was included for a reason. Maybe it’s time to use it. But that would require a provincial politician with some guts, something we haven’t seen much of lately.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; gun violence is a far more complicated problem than either side of the political spectrum will admit. Until systemic poverty, drug abuse, the profitablity that prohibition causes, readily available (typically illegally imported) handguns, light sentences for violent/sexual offenders, difficulty re-integrating non-violent/non-sexual offenders back into society, and etc. are dealt with there will be problems with (gun) violence in society; simply banning guns or cracking down on drugs doesn’t solve anything, banning guns disarms honest, inocent people whereas cracking down on drugs increases the profitability of drugs for those people who are the most violent.
Get off Miller’s back!
Sure a few people are getting popped now and then. And we get our garbage picked up every other week. And our roads look like Beirut.
You rubes (h/t to RM) aren’t seeing the big picture.
Because if you did, you’d get down on your knees and praise Mayor Miller for saving us from the Apocalypse that would have been the… gasp…. bridge to the Island.
And clearly and frankly, isn’t that what is truly important here?
I’m sure once Miller gets back from Spain, he will not waste a second in announcing that we “all need to re-double our efforts” to get the guns off the streets…. which, are now “double really illegal” since Paulie Librano said so at the corner of Jane & Finch.
John Crittenden
That’s a awesome post. You have my vote on all of them. Now all we have to do, is elect some people that will carry them through.
John
why I should pay full price of $40.000 per year for them to be in jail- for half price Russia was going to provide the service?
NoOne. I agree. The problem I see though is illegal immigrant crime. We will always have enough criminals of our own. Why do we have to import more?
I still say a LOT of this can be eliminated by simply deporting anyone convicted of a crime who is a member or a street gang or any criminal organization. And, of course, immediate deportation of ANY immigrant who is found to be in Canada illegally. There are proper channels set up for anyone wanting to immigrate to Canada. What good are the rules if our laws do not support them? Again, as with the Gun Legislation, current immigration laws only hurt law abiding citizens.
I agree whole-heartedly with John Crittenden. Reality will be however that the Liberals with use this tragic event to further their handgun ban agenda and the public will go along because of fear. After all, such a ban only affects a minority and it gives the political impression of “tough action”
The facts are that there is not a shred of statistically valid evidence that the 1-2b registry has done anything to reduce gun violence or that it has aided in the solving of firearms related crime. The guns used by these criminals have been restricted in Canada for more than 70 years yet they still get used for criminal purposes. In the UK, where severe restrictions were placed on firearms ownership some years ago, there was no reduction in murder. The perps just switched to knives and now they are talking about banning kitchen cooking knives.
While we are at it why don’t be ban hammers, axes, chain saws, baseball bats, and any and all objects that might be used against another person.
More useless bans on “things” are not going to solve the problem. Crittenden has it right.
“BanGun-BanGun Registry” SSMartin speaking from his teeth. Martin’s hug-a-thug Liberal policies stand condemned. >>
Prime minister condemns deadly Toronto Boxing Day shooting
OTTAWA (CP) – A Boxing Day shooting that killed one teen and injured several other shoppers in downtown Toronto was a “needless tragedy,” particularly coming at the holiday season, says Prime Minister Paul Martin.>>
canoenews
Perhaps we need to bring back conscription, one year in the army to learn discipline which is not being applied in homes with or without fathers. They would get to fire guns until they are bored with it, exercise and mixing with people from different backgrounds, rather than their black gang memberships. Something would rub off at least on some of the young hoodlums.
Josef, a bad deal?
This is self-inflicted. A lefty mayor, lefty premier, a city that has gone all Liberal four terms in a row federally, and lefty police chief, and it’s a bad deal?.
Maybe if Toronto got its head out of its collective ass, and voted for someone who gave a damn about the city, maybe something could be done about this.
Instead, it will only get worse, because no one has the balls to be politically incorrect and deal with the REAL cause of the problem, and that is Canada’s pathetic immigration system.
Just don’t tell that to a leftie. HANDGUN BAN! HANDGUN BAN! Yes, yes, oh yes, etc……
Am I the only Torontonian who almost hopes the Liberals win so that I can move to an independent and relatively crime-free Alberta?
Toronto’s gun problems answer can be found in the old Western re-runs. Remember how Wyatt Earp banned all handguns in Dodge City and everyone respected law and order… Todays Yonge street is worse that the Wild West since the Socialist City counsellers brought in the “New Sheriff”; and wasn’t one of Wyatt Earp’s arch-enemies the “Dalton Gang”?
From CNN:
“I can’t say which of the individuals have been targeted and which are accidental,” Police Staff Sgt. Stan Belza said.
It sickens me to think a Toronto city official considers the death of a 15-year old girl out shopping with her mother was the result of an accident.
Are Canadians than weak not to call a spade a spade?
This was no accident.
Liberal/Socialist ineptitude, spineless policies and a treasonous appointed judiciary are absolutely to blame for the escalation of violence in Canada period.
My heartfelt condolences to the family that has lost there daughter in this tragic event. We that are not exposed to this violence cannot know how you feel. We can talk all we want, but until we the people take a stand against this lack of respect for one’s life we will never be safe on our streets. Not until we vote in a government that is willing to stand up to this low life that roams our streets, will you ever be safe. All the programs & bans in the world will not stop this violence, Action is the only way. If a judge wants to be soft, fire him. Put in judges that will use the law to the utmost. And listen to the people on the front lines that deal with this violence, there is nothing worse than a politician that thinks he know’s better(Martin & Miller).
george. I agree in theory. But criminals need to be made pay for their actions. I wonder if Cuba would agree to host another Guantanamo? At least that would put these creeps out of the reach of Canadian lawyers.
stephen ottridge. This might be a good way to address some local crime. But the main problem is imported crime in my opinion. First things first. It’s easy to deal with imported crime. Don’t allow it into Canada in the first place or, if that is not effective all the time (and it won’t be every time), then deport it when it rears it’s head.
We need new laws in this area. Canadian law should be for Canadians. Anyone illegally in this country should not fall under our laws or take up the time of our courts or penal system. Find them quickly and deport them. End of problem.
BTW, we’re talking about serious crime here. This does not include all the souls that were put out on the street simply because our politicians refused to take care of them. Many street people are as good as you and me. They just have a problem, either mental, physical or addictive. We need to look after these people. They are Canadians too. And we’re ignoring them. Shame on Canada.
Red Star tells ya to be brave!
It’s the same in the States, United States. Canada is no longer morally superior to America.
Aunty-American died on “Shooting Day” in Toronto.>>>
TO like any big American city
Toronto Star, Canada – 4 hours ago
It was a shock for Bobby to be standing outside Future Shop having a smoke one minute and having to hit the pavement to the sound of gunfire the next. …
via google search
These arent really shootings. They are actually clever and sardonic protests about the lack of recreational opportunities available to disenfranchised ganstas.
More community clubs and outreach programs are desperately needed to give these unfortunate youths an opportunity to shoot people in the comfy confines of a drop in program.
Toronto is a big city, while tragic, it’s not surprising that it has many big city problems. Anybody, particularly someone who lives in rural Canada, who thinks he or she has simple answers to these problems is naive. Gun control will not solve the problem of violence but arming frightened people certainly won’t help either. I suspect a lot of the young people carrying guns on the streets of Toronto and Vancouver are doing it because they’re afraid now!
Within minutes of these almost daily shootings, our politicians take to the air to plea for witnesses.
What a joke.
You would have to be one dumb Liberal (is that redundant?) to put your family at risk by volunteering to testify against these killers.
I’ve got an idea.
When you politicians pass some laws with teeth…. I’ll come forward to testify.
When you put some judges on the bench who keep people who use and carry guns in jail for more than 10 minutes…. I’ll testify.
When I’m comfortable that pointing my finger at a killer won’t get me killed within days….. I’ll testify.
Until then, save your breath and your feigned anger.
You’d have to be a suicidal moron to point a finger at these killers, because as sure as the Libranos will steal again…. these killers will be released the same day they’re arrested…. and they’ll come gunning for those who are stupid enough to testify against them.
David Miller, Dalton McGuinty and Paul Martin… you are the reason we don’t come forward. Either do something to hold up your end of the bargain, or save your breath.
Tinfoil alert level 1.
This may NOT be your garden variety Jamaican gangbanger drive by.
If I were a muslim fun de mentalness without a bomb this is where I would be and how I would do it.
I’m down the street from the OK Corral, er uh Eaton’s Centre in Olivia Chow’s neighbourhood where you vote for the pre hyphen Chinese or Italian, party has nothing to do with it.
Toronto is a write off mixture of xenophobic/Marxist fruitcakes, who will actively attempt to pass this off as gangsters if they smell Islam, er uh the religion of peace.
garthwest, if that’s the case why are urbanites so naive as to believe that banning legal guns will solve a problem? Blaming guns for crime is like blaming women for prostitution. Only fools blame the tools.
You know, it is ironic that Canada often says it does not wish to be like the United States. Well, the fact is that Toronto and other cities are following the exact same prescription for self-destruction that many US cities did.
By the time the infested rot begins to make public displays like this shooting, it is already past time to deal with it.
You have to be aware of the fact that a lot of people who wish to deal with these issues don’t actually want to solve them. These problems create whole huge career opportunities for sociologists, social engineers, victims’ advocacy groups, from the municipal all the way up to the federal level.
So you have one group of people sensibly wanting to get tough with jail sentences, citizen handgun ownership, more stringent criminal sentences, etc., and another group working very hard to create upward mobility for increasing numbers of people who see this as opportunities for real prosperity.
This latter group creates a victims’ aristocracy that rallies to the defense of every sociopathic murderer whose killing spree becomes public knowledge.
It is also true that while the “gangster” lifestyle initially attracts young people because of things like alienation, disaffection, and all those words, it is important to realize that very soon the entrepenurial spirit of some of them turns the “adventure” of being a “ganster” into something else. They begin to morph into sophisticated organized crime networks using violence in their business enterprises. Society tries to incrementally deal with them, and they start hiring lawyers and buying politicians.
You have to remember that these people do not act in a vacuum. Their narcotics are coming into the country from somewhere. They’re in contact with other, more sophisticated criminals who don’t have black faces. They are part of a greater synergistic, international criminal enterprise which already does bribe politicians and maintains power blocks over certain parts of the electorate.
So if the public faces of some of this crime are “gangstas” you have to realize that they operate in the territory of much more sophisticated and insidious gangsters from whom they can purchase the means to fuel their underground economy.
And by the way, when you get outraged because they shoot someone someplace in Toronto, please remember that from the gangster’s point of view, YOU are being allowed to walk around in the territory that belongs to THEM.
The time has come to build jails for blacks, then give thought to the muslim lockups going to be needed in the future!
“My husband has been talking about getting his handgun, which is safely locked up at his uncle’s ranch in Sask”
Ok, what would possibly be the point of this??
If he had been walking down yonge street when this started, would he have started shooting too? Do you really believe that more guns would have helped this situation?
Canada sucks!
Liberal anal bigtime
I agree with Stephen Ottridge, conscription is a good option. It teaches the young respect for authority, and they certainly need the discipline because they do not get it in their homes. I witnessed first hand this week-end the lack of respect that my own grandsons gave their parents. They have been given too much and are too used to having things their way. My cousins in England were conscipted right out of high school and it didn’t hurt them one iota.
Also, John Crittenden hit the nail on the head. Better immigration security. Scrutinize those coming in – keep out those with anti-social behaviour. If they do a crime with any type of weapon – knives, guns or machettes – to jail they go for a reasonable duration. Those who were immigrants should be deported just as soon as they finish their sentence. We do not need them back in our society.
garthwest, I think you are wrong. Rural folks can see the problem that the big cities are experiencing. A lot of us have lived through times that were much saner than to-day. We had hunting rifles in our cities as well as country. WE did not have this kind of immigration that there is today. It was not all that easy to get into Canada. There were no handouts to our immigrants. Family had to help family. No one came into Canada and went on social assistance – their was no assistance for even native born. We had relief – that is – if you are out of work it was enough to help until you found work and you looked because it didn’t go on forever.
I don’t buy that young people are carrying guns on the streets in Toronto because they are afraid. I don’t even believe that adults are carrying them, but you can bet those that are getting their jollies from all the turmoil they can muster are carrying them. We don’t need any gun laws we need stiffer sentences, deportation and life sentences for murder without early parole. HOW LONG IS LIFE TODAY.
Sorry, but offering Bad Diddy Pee a night at the drop in centre eating muffins and drinking hot chocolate when he could be out makin $5,000.00 selling dope, screwing a teen, and shooting at some other dumb ass won’t work.
You committ a crime using a gun..say hello to fifteen years of hard time. If you’re in the county illeagly and get caught, you’re outta here. Mom and dad caught up in the welfare forever cycle and look to Bad Diddy Pee to keep food on the table..cut the welfare, offer them practial skills training, an enforce a back to work program.
James (in Toronto),
The point is, not that he would be carrying it, but that by making the very statement is a sign of how much this is starting to affect the sense of security (of lack there of) people are feeling. If you have been listening to any of the public that have been speaking out on this today, the sentiment is very much the same: People are starting to be afraid of living in their own city! My husband was born and raised right by Malvern and has experienced gun violence his entire life (including losing a high school friend as a bystander in a gang related shooting). For him to now be feeling insecure is a major statement. Maybe it has to do with the fact that he now has a family of his own, or maybe he is just sick of this, period.
Talk all you want, but until we elect mp’s & mpp’s that are willing to change the laws of the land this violence will not stop. Soft on crime politicians have about as much place in today’s society as the low life that is pulling the trigger. They are unwilling to act on this violence “Iam going to ban all handgun’s” statements only appease the vulnerable at election time, These acts of ruthless violence did not begin on boxing day and these softie politicians that we have today have had many years to act, but have they, “NO” then vote them out. Its up to you to stop it by change at the top.
What really pisses me off is I asked my wife to not go there yesterday, I halfheartedly “shortversion” explained my forebodence based on my prediction of a gang shoot up, or a terrorist hit. She was at the other end of the Eaton centre one block away when it started. Bullets could have flown 1/2 a mile conservativly.
The same corner also reports the highest density of terror ,er uh tourists in Canada.
The same corner also invented “swarmings” which are a constant threat to Torontonians and visitors, as are,pursesnatchings, pickpockets, B and E’s and car smash and grabs.
This is Canada.
This is Canada, from now on.
If I could predict this , “richfisher the foreteller of truths”, why could’nt the police station 2 blocks west? Is it too much to ask if the city could have had someone to make the same prediction, and have a cop placed at each corner with a gun to kill the perps, or at least show intent?
Could they not better use the money that the city used to buy all of it’s maintenance staff RIM Blackberries and put a few more armed cops on that corner.
Nope, sorry (answer my own question) , we elected Olivia Chow, Jack Layton and David Miller and other thieving lefty socialist cop haters.
Agreed
Increasing immigration without studying it’s contribution to crime is not the answer it’s one more step into oblivion.
I hate to rain on everyone’s parade but Canada has laws about using weapons in the commission of a crime. Are they used? No, or if they are not dealt away in a plea bargain then the sentences are served concurrently. Serve time for one or thirty crimes doesn’t make too much difference if they are all served at once at Club Fed. And please don’t get me started on manditory parole after 2/3 of a sentence. Or house cerfew and lecture tour.
May I humbly suggest that Canada hire a few people like the Arizona sherriff that has a tent city for a prison. You gotta love that guy, no A/C, no cable TV, and no steaks on thursdays. Thing is, not too many people come back for a return visit.
Mandatory parole after 2/3 of sentence? News for ya, in the Federal System (penitenciary) it is after 1/2 of the sentence. Your county jail (provincial) sentences are 2/3.
John, excellent! You expressed exactly how a lot of people are feeling. I have one other thought to add, IF we changed the laws to include anyone over the age of 12 that commits murder with a gun be moved to adult court. Yes, we would have to have special facilities for these youth but if they had to face the same charges and their names reveiled, this might make these little pukes think twice before arming themselves.
While I agree wholeheartedly with the actual application of stiffer sentences and more stringent immigration and deportation rules I can’t see that happening any time soon – if ever.
Arming the general population has it’s merits but there are too many tangential dangers and complications. (I’m sure we all know someone who could qualify to carry a gun but would cause us to cringe if it ever actually happened)
I would like to see a small discreet group of individuals who would target known gang leaders and members and make sure that the human garbage that did the shooting yesterday never made it to court – or out of court – or out of jail – alive. The next time a judge grants a ridiculously lenient sentence they should be made an example of as well.
Maybe I’m a little extra grumpy today because my wife and teenaged daughter were downtown yesterday at the Eaton Centre and left shorlty before the shooting began.
It’s definitely time to start shooting back.
Kate:
I haven’t read “Lost Budgie’s” original post in its entirety, but this part
Toronto: Where an off-duty police officer wounded in last night’s gunfire was unarmed because police are prohibited from carrying their weapons off-duty. Mayor Miller doesn’t trust police officers that much.
implies that officers not carrying their weapons off-duty is something typical of Toronto or unusual anywhere else. I have no great love for what little I know of David Miller, but the off-duty carrying of firearms is pretty widely forbidden. A buddy in the Edmonton Police Service is not allowed to wear it or take it home with him off-duty, and I believe the rule is the same with the Calgary Police Service.
I’m pretty sure it’s the same or similar in most jurisdictions in Canada. Does anyone know if I’m incorrect?
You are incorrect, it depends on the individual Police Service policy and procedures. The criminal code allows for off duty Police Officers to carry guns as the feeling is your still a cop, on or off duty. It is only the specific services that have policy against that but I wouldn’t call it a general rule. That being said, there may be many services that have that policy but I know of many that don’t as well.
“I hate to rain on everyone’s parade but Canada has laws about using weapons in the commission of a crime.”
Have you read these laws? I have, or at least tried to. Some do exist but there are ways around them.
What some of us here are talking about is a “mandatory”, “additional” sentence of several years (6 to 20 if I remember correctly), for any crime committed with a firearm. These “mandatory” additional sentences are just that, additional to the judgement rendered, and cannot be plea bargained away.
But this doesn’t address the problem of immigrant crime. A lot of these punks on the streets of Vancouver are not in this country legally, or, if they are, they are newly immigrated. If an immigrant flouts our laws then they should simply be sent back to wherever they came from. I don’t care if their lives are in danger back there. Our lives are in danger when they’re here.
I think we agree of course, and we’re just playing with words here. But that may be part of the problem. We need fewer words and more action.
I’d love to see a tent city on an island off the BC coast. But why use one of those beautiful islands for these scum? A tent city in the midst of a mosquito infested swamp somewhere in northern Saskatchewan or Alberta would do just fine. No mosquito lotion allowed.
I spent many a boxing day at this very place. It has been a few years since. The last time, about 8 years ago I realized how much the area had changed.
More guns are not the right answer. Increasing sentences for those who committ crimes with guns, handguns, shotguns etc is it. It works in other places.
Rich Fisher….any evidence? that isnt a challenge it is that I was thinking the same thing as a possibility.
Vin:
Any idea which services in fact allow off-duty officers to carry their weapons? I’d be particularly interested to know whether there’s a big-city/small-town (or big-city/rural RCMP) split of some sort.
Miller is your typical airhead!!!!!!!
re: my post at 2:33 p.m.
“I’m sure once Miller gets back from Spain, he will not waste a second in announcing that we “all need to re-double our efforts” to get the guns off the streets…. ”
Mayor Miller was just on Global News, from Spain, saying he had spoken with Chief Blair and that the Chief had vowed to “re-double his efforts” to get the guns and bad guys off the streets.
What a joke Miller is. A predictable joke.
Round up all the identified gang members, and all their handguns, that you can find. Even supply some if needed. Borrow the nearest Candadian forces base to Tornonto, fill it with the aforementioned and let them have at it. Resupply with ammo from the air as needed. Ring the base with police or the military. Whoever comes out the winner gets a special surprise. Repeat as necessary, till you don’t have a gang problem anymore.
“John… I have one other thought to add, IF we changed the laws to include anyone over the age of 12 that commits murder with a gun be moved to adult court. Yes, we would have to have special facilities for these youth but if they had to face the same charges and their names reveiled, this might make these little pukes think twice before arming themselves.”
I agree. Their names should become part of the visible record for serious crimes for sure.
“Arming the general population has it’s merits but there are too many tangential dangers and complications. (I’m sure we all know someone who could qualify to carry a gun but would cause us to cringe if it ever actually happened)”
I remember years ago when it wasn’t “scarry” at all for my neighbours to own a gun. Even a handgun. In fact I had neighbours on all sides who owned guns of one kind or another. None of us were scared of each other. I even had a letter of introduction from the RCMP and permission to carry a rifle with me in Canada’s parks when I was out photographing big game animals in the fall. I never had to use it but it made me feel a little better having it.
Funny how things have changed. It all started to happen on Trudeau’s watch didn’t it?
Is that the same cop who appeared on Global News last nite, who said: “We are lucky this didn’t get out of control.” !?! (A dozen kids shooting at each other on a crowded street is apparently not ‘out of control’!) Duh?
There goes the tourista industry in Toronto!
(But look at the bright side- things like this distract attention away from the criminals in Ottawa, Queen’s Park, and City Hall- and a bigger budget for the police, too!)
Hello from Lost Budgie in Toronto
Regarding arming off-duty police officers…
Police officers – on or off duty – cannot run away like everyone else. It is called “duty”, and like it or not, one of the responsibilities that comes with being a sworn police officer is a legally mandated duty to uphold the law 24/7.
There is no “off-duty” or “on-duty” for a sworn law enforcement officer. See a crime on your day off and fail to act: you will be charged with Neglect of Duty.
That said, why not give a police officer a choice of whether to carry his sidearm or not? Why not?
Don’t like it? OK… fine. Call Mayor David Miller or PM Paul Martin next time something happens.
If I’m unarmed, off-duty and shopping with my wife at the Eaton Centre: don’t expect me to confront a shooter any more than you would.
If I’m armed, day off or not, I might be able to save a life. Maybe. I’ll try anyway.
As for me and my family… we’re bailing out of Toronto and heading north. Jamaican gangs rule the streets, and Mayor Miller and his puppet Chief of Police would rather sing “Kumbyeya” than seriously target Jamaican gang members.
Can’t mention that 2.7% of the population is responsible for 87% of the shootings. Just not done, old chap…