Pubdate: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON) Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317 INNOCENCE IS LOST IN TORONTO If Toronto hadn't already lost its innocence, it has now.Canada's largest city has been plagued by gun violence for much of 2005, and it culminated on Boxing Day with the shooting death of a 15-year-old girl. Six others were also wounded in Toronto's downtown where police say rival gangs opened fire on each other. Drug turf is reportedly the all-too-familiar reason for these gang members shooting with no regard for innocent shoppers. It was the day after Christmas and people were looking for a few bargains on Yonge Street, just north of Dundas Street. What they experienced instead was the violent death of a teenager. She was out shopping with her parents when a stray bullet hit her in the head. A 20-year-old man who was also caught in the crossfire remains in critical condition. Toronto police are looking for as many as 15 males, in their late teens or early 20s. Two men, one of them carrying a handgun, were arrested within 15 minutes of the shootings but no charges have been laid. There have been 78 murders in Toronto this year, so far, and 52 have been gun-related. This is the most Toronto murders since 1991 and the most gun-related killings on record. City, provincial and federal political leaders have all expressed their outrage. The shootings have become an international story at a time of year when peace and goodwill normally dominate the headlines. Many have wondered aloud whether this is the straw that will finally break Toronto's back. SARS did considerable damage to the city's reputation, but not in comparison to the gun violence. Canadians are simply not used to it. Gun-related killings are something that most Canadians associate with American society, the Middle East or Third World nations. Prime Minister Paul Martin's plans for a sweeping ban on handguns has been harshly criticized on many fronts during this election campaign. Handguns are already severely restricted in Canada. A handgun registry has been in force here for more than 60 years. But it's obviously not working. Gang members, drug dealers and other criminals don't register their weapons. In most cases handguns come into Canada illegally, are sold illegally and possessed illegally. And since Toronto is the nation's most populous city, with the most crime, it isn't a surprise that 52 people have died in gun-related shootings this year. There are those who still say that handguns don't kill people; people kill people. But people without handguns have one less weapon with which to kill other people. It is the responsibility of the federal government, which controls the Canadian border, to impede the northern flow of handguns and other weapons. It's the responsibility of provincial and Toronto police to determine who committed the Boxing Day shootings and bring them to justice. It is the responsibility of all those who deal with youths teachers, social workers, friends and family to reach out to them, so they understand that gangs, violence and crime are not their only choices. Because Toronto the good is long gone, and it will never return unless all of those with the above responsibilities can fulfil them. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom