Banning what was already Banned.

CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR


ETF officers and K-9 unit search for clues on Janet Blvd. after 2 p.m. shooting at Lawrence Ave. E. apartment building April 8, 2008, left two men injured.

Banning what was already Banned is more Politics than Sense..

With increasing rate of Gun Crimes in the Greater Toronto Area, particularly in the areas where the Drug and Gang cultures are prevalent, the Toronto Council’s Executive committee unanimously approved a resolution banning handguns..

The Best the City could do is asked the Federal Government to ban Handguns...But. But handguns have been effectively banned across the country for a long time already..Handgun can be carried only by Police Officers and Security Personnel (armoured vehicles guards).

Yet, handguns can be had by anyone legally under the law and without the limits as to how many a person can have as long as the requirements of the law regarding proper and safe storage are complied with and all others such as they must be registered, and only for the purpose of Collection and Sports (target shooting).

But lately, some gun crimes involved legally owned handguns committed by its owners and most stolen from their owners, but majority still involved illegal handguns smuggled from across the border and traded illegally on the City Streets.

If indeed ownership of handguns should be banned, it can not only be done locally in particular city or province, but the whole country as Criminal Law is the Federal Government responsibilities and banning ownership in one place, but not in another is surely in Violation of the Charter's provision on Equality...

But the Federal Government had already informed the City of Toronto Government that Canada’s Gun Control Law is the Strictest it could get as handguns are already effectively banned. What is needed is the Policing aspect of enforcing the Gun Law and the enforcement of as much the Maximum penalty for violent Crimes involving firearms..

Also lately, Police forces in the GTA let it known that most of the suspects arrested in violent gun crimes are either repeat offenders, or Out on Bail for another Gun Crimes or Violent Crimes.

The granting of Bail for violent crime offenders should be reviewed and this is where the Onus should be Reversed and the burden should be shifted to the Accused to justify granting of Bail before the resolution of his or her case.

Yes, witnesses have been hearing lot of fireworks, anytime of day and only to read in the paper or watch in the t.v. or listen in the Radio that another one had been a victim of a gun crime, and sometimes a completely innocent by-stander...

for today's fireworks, clik here and here and for much bigger fireworks it's here

UPDATE: A 7 yerrs old boy that was reported missing during the shooting and who may have witnessed the shooting had been located by the Police together with his Father in the Same Building Complex where the incident happened..the boy's father was charged for the double shooting...it's here just clik...

Gunfight at the City's North End..one down, five hurt.

RICK EGLINTON/TORONTO STAR

Officers prepare to canvass March 15, 2008 in the housing complex at Dufferin St. and Lawrence Ave. W. where six men were shot a day earlier, one fatally.



RENE JOHNSON/TORONTO STAR

A bullet hole is seen in the aftermath of a shootout March 14, 2008 near Dufferin St. and Lawrence Ave. W. which left one man dead and three others in hospital

Gunfight at the City’s North End:

An 18 years old identified by Police as Abdikarim Ahmed Abdikarim, was the 11th homicide victims of the City for the Year and five other young men were hurt in a shootout in Toronto Northend of Lawrence and Duferin Area at a Toronto Housing Corporation apartment building.

Witnesses said the Area is known for the hangouts of youths, some or most carrying guns and the melee may had been started when some youth playing with gun accidentally discharged prompting others to shoot back thinking the war has started.

for more details and witnesses comments clik here
and here

LATEST UPDATE from the City's Police, March 16 4:00am EDT Brazen shooting left one dead, five injured, Toronto Sun Media

Six young men caught in a hail of bullets, one of whom was killed, were minding their own business when a gunman opened fire on them at a Lawrence Heights housing complex, police say.

Surveillance video shows two men walking up to the six shortly before 10 p.m. Friday as they stood on the doorstep of a lowrise apartment at 87 Amaranth Ct., near Allen Rd. and Lawrence Ave. W.

Then, without warning, one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting all six.

"There's no explanation for why the gunman opens fire," homicide Det.-Sgt. Brian Borg said yesterday after viewing the video. "It was quite a brazen shooting."

He said the victims had no chance to escape because they were "boxed in" on the porch.

No arrests had been made as of last night. Tipsters are urged to call the homicide unit at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS.

Another Bloody Weedend... 11 Years Old one of the Victims..

Tuesday July 24, morning...

Update: Toronto Police Arrested two Suspects in the killing of 11 -year-old Ephraim Brown and Charged of First Degree Murder:

Here is the Link:::
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/239118



They can be legally owned, the great source of pleasures for sportsmen and collectors and efficient tools for the Law Enforcement Officers, but in the hands of gang members, drug dealers and youngsters who are lost and desperate, they are the greatest source of griefs, heartaches, and pains that will forever be borne by the those that are left behind; the mothers, fathers, the sisters and brothers, sons and daughters and the society that will be asking itself, where did we go wrong??


Left: Glock (Gaston Glock of Austria)Model 17 in 9mmParabellum..1911A-1 cal.45 by Sringfield Armoury... From my own Collections..background red wines of Australia...

















Camisha Brown, 15 is hugged by a relative during the press conference as
she pleads for information in killing of brother, Ephraim Brown, 11.

Another very young child killed, caught in a cross fire between gangs rivalry, in the same troubled section of the City where gun plays, drug dealings and now even the innocent minors are no exception to violence.

And provincial politicians, always quicker on the draw, again making noises of asking the Federal government to ban Handguns, which by law are already banned for anyone to Carry except by Law Enforcement Officers.


Ephraim Brown, 11 years old, the 43rd homicide victims of the year was killed in an exchange of gunfire in a housing project near Jane St. And Sheppard Ave. After two rival gangs came face to face at one of several birthday parties held in the area.

Provincial Atty. General Bryant said he will ask the Federal government to strengthened further the Gun Control law. And this is what he wants the government to do, which do not make sense at all...

"Thousands of guns are stolen every year and there are too many on Toronto's streets, . It's time to crack down on illegal gun traders and make it harder to get a handgun, adding he will ask the federal government for support in "closing the loopholes that exist to get a handgun".

First and foremost, stealing guns is a criminal offense and the Police should crack down on those criminals. Or better still allow gun owners to use them to protect their possessions, which in our law we could not unless for self defense and somebody breaking into your vault for your collection of firearms is not considered Self-Defense and Gun owners can not legally have their Guns abled while at home. They are by law only for lawful purposes like Hunting, Target Shooting and Collections.

Secondly, all handguns, acquired legally are registered and a pre-investigation by Police are required and safety courses are now mandatory. Police have the authority to check for Proper and Safe Storage and may cancel the privilege upon infractions.

But the problem with our Political Leaders, afraid of being labeled politically incorrect, they are scared to address the real issues. The Gun Violence and Crimes, vast Majority of Which happened in the same neighborhoods of housing projects, and can be identified with a Specific group of Gangs and Drug Dealers and small time hoodlums and Mostly the victims are Young Blacks from mostly Single Parents families. That these kids are raised with only a mother without the proper community guidance during their growing up years and can easily become the preys of Gangs Leaders and Druggies. This issue had been known to all the Politicians all the time.

The concentration of these families in Housing Projects, without the sufficient community support as to entertainments, sports and other diversions for the kids to indulge to, will be a magnet that will later attract them to the life of Crimes.

To always blame the Gun Laws and its deficiencies will never solve the problem. There are already Millions of Guns of all kinds in Existence, legally owned and illegally, they won’t just disappear.

Meanwhile, here are some that could be done while the politicians are all putting their heads together to address these issues, before another child is Lost...

** Enforce the "No Carry Law" without Mercy.
** Enforce the Maximum penalty for Gun crimes, instead of the usual Slap in the hands handed down by the courts.
** Try Minors involve in Gun Crimes in Adult Courts as they are used by their adults counterpart to do the crime, or offer them plea bargains and court protections and testify against their mentors and masterminds, or simply name names...
** More stringent background investigations for those wanting firearms acquisition permits.
**And more stringent enforcement of Safe Storage guidelines and proper check by the authorities, instead of the usual "owner's responsibility rule". (don't always assume that all abide by the provision of the Law), as substantial guns in the streets were stolen from Legal Gun owners.

Other than Blanket Ban on Firearms, which may not stand Constitutionally, there are a lot both the Provincial and the Federal Governments can do. Meantime our Local Police should put more resources and insure more visibility (patrols) in these neighborhoods where gun plays are common occurrences and they know where they are, everyone does. Jane and Finch areas, St Jamestown, Entertainment district downtown, Malvern, Lawrence and Don Mills, and a few more other areas , but without sacrificing their response time in all other places...

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/238772

Deadly weekend
SUNDAY
12:58 a.m. – Ephraim Brown, 11, is shot and killed outside a Jane St. and Sheppard Ave. W. area apartment building. A 21-year-old man walks into an area hospital a short time later with a bullet wound to the leg.
1:56 a.m. – A 31-year-old man is found shot to death outside a Bleecker St. apartment near Bloor St. E.
2 a.m. – One man dies following a double shooting near Duncan and Adelaide Sts. in the heart of the Entertainment District.
SATURDAY
3 a.m. – Kimel Foster, 21, is shot dead and a 31-year-old man is shot in the abdomen as about 50 people leave a birthday party at the Town Talk bar on Vaughan Rd. near Oakwood Ave.
5:54 a.m. – Two men are shot outside a Barclay St. home near Bathurst St. and Wilson Ave. following a dispute. Another man is charged.