Canada’s state broadcaster has been using past tragedies including the 2018 Toronto Danforth shooting to back Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ban on handguns – despite the fact that the killer obtained his handgun illegally.
An article by the CBC on how the federal firearms ban “brings relief” to the victims of shootings leaves out one crucial detail – that mass killer Faisal Hussain acquired his semi-automatic murder weapon illegally through gang-related sources.
The article claims that “Toronto residents directly affected by a deadly mass shooting on the Danforth nearly four years ago say they welcome a new federal firearms bill that would freeze the purchase, sale, importation and transfer of handguns in Canada.”
In reality, police believe the gun used in the shooting which left three dead and thirteen wounded was smuggled in from the US.
Investigators also thought Hussain – who also shot himself – obtained the illegal weapon through a “gang-related source.” Hussain’s older brother was known to police for having ties to the Thorncliffe Park street gang.
On Monday, Trudeau announced a national ban on handguns, as well as other measures targeting law-abiding firearms owners.
The law – known as Bill C-21 – prevents people from buying, selling or transferring handguns within Canada. Those who already possess a restricted firearm will be allowed to continue using it for target practice or sport shooting.
“(The) national freeze on handguns (would) prevent individuals from bringing newly acquired handguns into Canada and from buying, selling, and transferring handguns within the country,” a press release claimed.
“In addition to this new legislation, the Government of Canada will require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can never hold more than five rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large capacity magazines under the Criminal Code.”
As reported by True North, over a dozen top cops and policing experts have slammed the effectiveness of a handgun ban.
At a public safety committee meeting in February, Toronto deputy police chief Myron Demkiw also questioned how domestic gun control measures would deal with the gun crime problem in Canada’s largest city.
“Our problem in Toronto is handguns from the United States,” said Demkiw. “The issues around investing in what you described is certainly not going to deal with the crime problem we’re facing in Toronto, as it relates to the use of criminal handguns.”
Regina police chief Evan Bray seconded Demkiw’s position.
“A very strong theme is that most people who are committing crime with guns are criminals who don’t have the ability to possess them,” he said. “It’s not law-abiding gun owners who are committing the majority of these crimes.”
