I'm always amused by a politician who confuses his own ignorance and
lack of imagination with a universal truth. "If I say there is no
reason to own a gun, then there isn't -- case closed."
http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=4bff1b19-a1ae-4b6e-9da9
-3ba4d8ddf58a
Mayor Miller examines legislation to keep guns out of homes
Mayor: No reason to have a firearm at home, Miller says
James Cowan
National Post
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Gun owners in Toronto may soon be prohibited from keeping their
firearms at home even if they are properly licensed and registered,
Mayor David Miller said yesterday.
"There's no reason to own a gun in Toronto -- collector or not. If you
are a collector and you have a permit, the guns need to be stored in a
way that they can't be stolen. And perhaps a centralized facility of
some kind could accomplish that goal," Mr. Miller told the National
Post. "The law requires gun owners to have proper storage, but
obviously not everyone adheres to that."
Following a spate of shootings in Toronto, the Mayor has asked city
lawyers and the police to determine whether the municipality has the
"legal ability" to require individuals to store their weapons at a
secure facility such as a gun club.
"It's a very serious issue and I don't have all the answers to it, but
I've spoken to the [Police] Chief as well as our own legal department
to see what we can do," Mr. Miller said.
The Mayor has repeatedly blamed lax gun laws in the United States for
some of Toronto's violence, saying half of the firearms in the city
originated in the United States.
While pressing the federal government to stem the smuggling of guns
across the border, Mr. Miller said steps must also be taken steps to
address domestic gun problems.
"I understand there was one theft from a collector two years ago, where
some of the guns were recovered after being used in murders in
Toronto," he said.
Police have also speculated a theft in June of 46 handguns, along with
three rifles and ammunition, from a collector in Port Hope, 100
kilometres east of the city, has contributed to the recent increase in
shootings.
Mr. Miller noted several U.S. cities such as Chicago have passed
ordinances restricting handgun ownership. But legal gun owners argue
the new rules would only make life simpler for criminals.
"It would just put all the firearms in one place so they could all be
stolen at one time," said Eric Greer of the Ontario Arms Collectors
Association. "That would be a wonderful thing."
Mr. Greer added the Mayor's proposal would not prevent criminals from
acquiring weapons, noting Canada enacted its first handgun registry in
1934.
"It hasn't made one iota of difference. And the reason is the people
that registered their handguns don't commit the crimes. The people who
commit crimes don't register their guns. It's as simple as that," he
said.
Other gun owners said they are tired of being conflated with murderers
and thieves.
"There are legal gun owners all over Ontario who don't go around
brandishing their guns, who go through the whole rigamarole to get
licensed properly," said Bill, a member of the Maple Leaf Revolver
Club, who asked his last name not be used citing safety concerns. "The
Mayor's not thinking properly."
He added most gun owners would support tough sentences for individuals
caught using firearms to commit a crime.
"At most of the clubs, you will hear people say, 'Arrest the guy, look
at the law and if the law says to throw him away for five years or 10
years, do it,' " the gun owner said.
Mr. Miller agreed the courts must be more stringent, noting individuals
caught with weapons currently are routinely released on bail.
"If somebody has a gun, that's illegal, whether or not they've shot it
should be irrelevant. They should be treated like they've shot it and
tried to kill somebody," he said. "So when they come to court, they
shouldn't get out. They should be kept in court until they're tried."
[Reproduced under Fair Use exceptions for academic discussion purposes.]
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