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Orillia mayor says feds, not municipalities, should 'take the lead' on handgun ban

Recently introduced legislation would allow for municipalities to take action against handguns
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Orillia’s mayor has reaffirmed his support for a federal ban on handguns, but part of the recently tabled legislation leaves him less enthused.

The government recently introduced legislation that includes the option for municipalities to ban handguns by passing bylaws that would restrict the ability to possess, store and transport firearms.

“It certainly is a federal issue and I would much prefer to see the federal government or even the province take the lead on this,” said Mayor Steve Clarke.

He likened it, to a lesser degree, to the early days of public smoking bans. Individual municipalities took action first, before the province came on board with blanket legislation.

“If one thing makes sense in one municipality, depending on the issue, it likely makes sense in other municipalities,” he said, adding he “can’t imagine there are many mayors who feel differently” about the handgun ban.

In 2019, city council voted in favour of asking the federal and provincial governments to ban handguns and assault weapons.

“My feeling on that hasn’t changed. I certainly support that ban,” Clarke said.

However, when it comes to municipalities enacting bylaws to ban the weapons, he is concerned about what will mean for bylaw enforcement officers.

“I’m not sure that has been contemplated by the federal government,” he said. “I can’t see where that type of enforcement would or could be done by municipal law enforcement officers. That is problematic.”

It would still require the services of provincial police, he added.

Clarke isn’t dismissing the idea altogether. If it comes before council for discussion or a decision, “it’s something we could certainly entertain,” he said.

Ottawa said this legislation builds on previous measures to keep guns out of Canadian communities, including prohibiting assault-style firearms and providing $327.6 million through the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence to support provincial-, territorial- and community-level prevention and enforcement efforts to tackle the increase in gun-related violence and gang activity.

“Communities are the heart of Canada and Canadians need to know that they can live, work and play safely in their own community,” said Bill Blair, minister of public safety and emergency preparedness. “The new legislation we introduced will help build on the practical and targeted measures we have taken to protect Canadians from firearms violence.”

Ottawa said the rates of violent and non-violent offences specific to firearms increased for the fifth consecutive year in 2019. The number of violent offences specific to firearms jumped by 21 per cent (an increase of 642 from 2,861 to 3,503).

Statistics Canada reports the use of firearms in homicides increased from 30 per cent in 2009 to 40 per cent in 2019.

Break-and-enter incidents for the purposes of stealing a firearm continue to increase. Police reported just over one-third of these offences involved breaking into a motor vehicle for the purpose of stealing a firearm. The remainder involved breaking and entering into another location, the majority of which were private residences.

This week’s federal announcement also mentioned giving young people the opportunities and resources they need to avoid criminal behaviour by providing funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to support youth programs.

With files from Bob Bruton

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Nathan Taylor

About the Author: Nathan Taylor

Nathan Taylor is the desk editor for Village Media's central Ontario news desk in Simcoe County and Newmarket.
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