Explosion of gun violence not confined to Toronto

Gun and gang violence has been on the rise west of the city where cops recently seized eight firearms in 11 days.

But Peel Regional Police say most gun crimes committed in their region “involve guns that were illegally obtained and possessed.”

So unlike Toronto, which has seen an explosion of bullets flying in recent years, there has been no talk of banning those who are licensed from owning legal handguns.

And cops in Peel have openly acknowledged that the suspension of carding in 2016 and the subsequent introduction of strict provincial regulations governing street checks have contributed to increased gun violence.

“The new regulation restricts how officers are able to interact with members of the public, and in doing so, it also gives criminals an option not to talk to police when officers attempt to collect personal information,” police recently told the Toronto Sun.

“The result is criminals feel empowered, thinking officers won’t stop them and they now are more confident they will get away with carrying guns and knives,” police said.

There have been 20 murders in Peel already this year, eight by guns — compared to 16 in all of 2017, nine of which were shootings.

In 2017, cops took 429 guns off the streets of Peel. This year officers had already seized 247 firearms off the streets of Brampton and Mississauga by July.

And between Aug. 15 and Aug. 25, Peel cops seized eight firearms:

– On Aug. 15, two 9mm handguns were found during a traffic stop near Hwy. 50 and Bellchase Trail, in Brampton, and a Richmond Hill man, 45, was charged.

– On Aug. 16, a suspicious activity call near Flowertown Ave. and McLaughlin Rd., Brampton, led to the seizure of a shotgun from the trunk of a vehicle and charges against four Brampton men in their 20s.

– On Aug. 21, a .22-caliber revolver was seized during a traffic stop near Mclaughlin Rd. and Williams Pkwy., in Brampton, and a Brampton man, 19, was charged.

– On Aug. 24, a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum long barrel revolver was recovered after an armed robbery in Mississauga and a Toronto man, 19, was charged.

– On Aug. 24, a 9mm semi-automatic handgun was seized from a Brampton residence, near Chinguacousy Rd. and Queen St., and a Brampton man, 34, was charged.

– On Aug. 25, a Glock 22 .40 calibre handgun with a loaded magazine and a Blue Line Solutions .22 calibre handgun with a loaded magazine were seized in a traffic stop near Tomken Rd. and Steeles Ave., in Brampton, and charges were laid against a Caledon man, 18, and a Bolton man, 17.

In a recent statement, Peel Police Chief Jennifer Evans called the spike in violent crime and firearms use “unacceptable.”

“I have initiated a plan to add additional officers to front line to increase enforcement and want criminals to know that if you commit a crime in Peel then my officers will find you,” Evans said.
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