Posted on 08/16/2005 11:36:56 AM PDT by neverdem
mayor: No reason to have a firearm at home, Miller says
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."
Because they're the ones who can believe the lies and BS they spew, making it all the easier for them to deceive people.
Tagline update ping.
you need to be seriously deranged to be a mayor or politician .... There are ignorant people all over of course, I guess politicians just seems worse because when they say something really stupid it is on the news 10 seconds later. But, one time for me and I would keep my yap shut and do my job.
It boggles the mind. Alice in Wonderland.
I didn't know Toronto was totally crime-free.
When was that exactly? < / SARCASM >
This is how it began in the UK.
that's mayor dave's news release - and here's mine. why is he any better than me? just cause he's a mayor??
InsureAmerica says no reason to think mayor dave is anything but a complete buffoon...... InsureAmerica says if you are mayor dave then you should keep your mouth shut, even if you think you have something to say.....
Mayor dave has greatly embarrassed Canada as well as the human race, this is a result of not keeping his mouth shut. Whether or not he knows how to speak, he should keep his mouth shut anyway........
But disarming the law-abiding is not the answer.
This shows the typical non-think of the liberal.
Centralized storage is centralized control. Not bad except if you should want to have a gun handy in times of natural disaster or domestic disorder, precisely those times when the police are least able to protect you. First order out of the government at that point is "lock up all the guns." Bet on it.
And, because the dumbass Canuckistanis registered their guns, Hizonna the mayor will know where to send the letters demanding the surrender of said firearms.
Oops... I almost forgot...
...surrender of said firearms, eh.
They have Democrats in Canada?
Anyway, he said that in order to purchase a rifle or shotgun in Kanada you must have a government issued permit and that it takes on the average of 9 months to get it.
Seems to me a certain revolution was started when a British King tried to do the same thing.
So of course the solution is to have everyone store there guns at the local cop shop. Why is it that the solution to every problem is always the lowest common denominator? A few people don't store their guns properly, so everyone must do something. A few people shouldn't have firearms, so no one should have them. A few kids can't pass the test, so lower the standards across the board. A few people are losers so lets treat everyone like a loser, except of course, the ruling class and those appointed to keep them in line.
Beat me to it ... I hope our friends up north have the same spine that we had back then ... heck I hope WE still have that same spine ...
bump for later
I think you might get an argument about that.
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