From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/NWview.cgi?/news/2000/10/24/fakeguns001024 Ontario bans starter guns WebPosted Wed Oct 25 01:23:41 2000 ET TORONTO - Solicitor General David Tsubouchi Tuesday introduced a new law to ban starter pistols and other fake guns that can be converted to the real thing. "We've been told specifically that the starter pistols are very problematic right now in terms of the conversion, so that's why we're banning them outright," he said. The new law also restricts the sale of BB guns and antiques to anyone under 18. But NDP MPP Peter Kormos said the law doesn't go far enough. "Ontario should be saying toy guns will not be sold," he said. http://www.1stheadlines.com/cgi/1sth.cgi?jvvr<11yyy0vjguvct0eqo1vjguvct1gfkvqt kcn1pgyu142223247PGY24aPC/IWP470jvon Tories introduce tough toy gun bill Legislation restricts sales to those over 18, bans starter pistols By Richard Brennan Toronto Star Queen's Park Bureau Legislation barring children and young teens from buying authentic-looking toy guns has been introduced at Queen's Park. ``These proposals are necessary because during an emergency situation police cannot distinguish between an imitation gun and the real thing,'' said Solicitor-General Dave Tsubouchi yesterday. The bill would also ban the sale of some starters' pistols. The Ontario government says it's the first in Canada to introduce such legislation. Police have been complaining for years that authentic-looking toys or air pistols are being used in crimes and that converted starter pistols are as deadly as the real thing. ``Imitation guns are a dangerous product . . . they are a risk to the public and to the police . . . more than 40 per cent of the `guns' seized by police are imitations,'' Tsubouchi said. He made a distinction between replica guns and toys that look real. Replica guns can't be fired and are already prohibited by the Criminal Code. The proposed legislation requires a person be 18 to buy an air pistol or a toy gun and bans outright the sale of starter's pistols that can be converted to the real thing. There is currently no age restriction on buying an air gun, but a person must be 18 to buy the pellets or BBs. The age restriction would also apply to de-activated guns - those that have had the firing mechanism removed. Vendors would be required to check photo identification for proof of age. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to $50,000. ``An investigation by the (provincial weapons enforcement) unit early last year revealed many instances of people buying the starter's pistols and converting them to fire live rounds,'' Tsubouchi said at a news conference. The same unit reported that as many as 700 imitation guns will be seized in Toronto this year, up from 600 last year, he said. The government's proposed legislation is based closely on a private member's bill introduced by Liberal critic MPP Michael Bryant (St. Paul's) earlier this year. ``It's dangerous and it's dumb that you should be able to buy these guns without any questions asked,'' Bryant said yesterday. ``Now we will have a law which means that in fact questions will be asked. The bad guys won't getting these guns and that's a good thing.'' Toronto Deputy Police Chief Joe Hunter welcomed the restriction on toy sales and particularly the ban on some starter's pistols. ``The ones that concern us the most are the ones that could be activated into being a firearm because they can cause death or harm to either member of the public or police. But certainly any imitation firearm or replica is of concern to us,'' Hunter said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- `If you are going to address the problem . . . then let's ban toy guns' - NDP MPP Peter Kormos ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- In 1999, Toronto police seized 85 starter pistols, 26 of which had been converted to fire live rounds. NDP critic MPP Peter Kormos said the sale of the real-looking toy guns should be banned outright. Tsubouchi said this may be an option if law enforcement officials find children under 18 are still getting their hands on them. ``If you are going to address the problem . . . then let's ban toy guns,'' Kormos said. ``There is no earthly reason why a responsible adult in my view would buy his or her child a toy gun to play with it. The (era) of playing with toy guns is long gone.'' Even though he expects to support the bill, Bryant said it defines the ``flip-flopping hypocrisy'' of the Harris government. ``The Tory Justice Minister (Jim Flaherty) initially opposed my phony gun bill and now they support it.'' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-10-25-0003.html Wednesday, October 25, 2000 Gun amnesty bull's eye By ROB LAMBERTI, TORONTO SUN Antique flintlocks were tossed in with Lugers, rifles and shotguns, all bound to be ground into dust. Toronto residents turned in 1,753 firearms for the $50 bounty in the city's 10-day gun amnesty program, which ended Oct. 14. The city had budgeted for 1,000 firearms. Toronto Councillor Rob Davis said yesterday people should send in their receipts quickly to receive money, noting the city has bumped up the budget by $5,000 to $55,000. But Davis expects many won't bother because they just wanted to be rid of something that could be potentially lethal. He said "unwanted" guns pose the greatest danger because they're often not secured properly and are at risk of being handled by a child or stolen. Gun owners must have a licence by the end of this year and will have to register all firearms by Jan. 1, 2003. Toronto Police Det.-Supt. Ron Taverner said 20% of surrendered weapons were handguns. The rest were rifles and shotguns, including sawed-off shotguns. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
