Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jan 2006
Source: Oakville Beaver (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Oakville Beaver
Contact:  http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/ob/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1600
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

OAKVILLE MPP APPLAUDS ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE MEASURES

In the wake of two Oakville shootings in three weeks, Kevin Flynn is
applauding his government announcement on the same day of a
$51-million dollar package of initiatives focused on getting guns off
the streets.

"The fact that we have had two shootings inside of a month in Oakville
is a sign that no community is immune to the dangers of gun violence,"
said Flynn, adding he is "shocked and saddened" by the recent
incidents of gun crime in Oakville. "Although our government has
already taken numerous steps to help police and prosecutors get guns
off the streets of the GTA, we need to continue working together to
eradicate gun crime."

On Dec. 15, an Oakville man was shot in Westoak Trails. Thursday
night, a 24-year-old Toronto man was shot in the leg in the parking
lot of Oakville Place.

Flynn went on to explain that Premier Dalton McGuinty has also been in
communication with the leaders of the four main federal political
parties and has urged them to implement a ban on handguns, impose
tougher sentences for the illegal possession of handguns and has asked
for their commitment to move forward on reverse-onus bail for all gun
crimes.

"Confronting the issue of gun crime is going to require complex
solutions," said Flynn. "We need to give police and prosecutors the
tools to do their job, and we need to continue to work hard on the
prevention side to provide kids with more positive options."

The province's latest steps in tackling gun crime include:

* An additional $5 million in immediate funding to support the Toronto
Police Service's offensive against guns and gangs -- money that will
allow police to set up three new teams of specially trained officers.

* The addition of 31 Crown prosecutors dedicated to prosecuting gun
crimes, including 10 who will provide dedicated expert advice to the
Toronto Police Service.

* Expanding the OPP's Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit by 15
officers (for a total of 58) at a cost of $2.3 million.

* The addition of 12 new victim services staff to provide support to
victims of gun crimes.

* The creation of dedicated major crime courts for trials involving
large, complex cases with multiple defendants.

* More than $26 million in funding to create and operate a new,
state-of-the-art Operations Centre for the Guns and Gangs Task Force
- -- which includes officers from the Toronto Police Service and the OPP
- -- so it has all the tools, resources and support it needs in one location.

Alongside the Premier's announcement, Monte Kwinter, Minister of
Community Safety and Correctional Services, revealed that his ministry
is fast-tracking their initiative to put 1,000 more officers on
Ontario's streets. As a result, Halton Regional Police Services will
be able to add the 34 new police officers allotted under the Safer
Communities -- 1,000 Officers Partnership Program by 2007.

In addition to long-term preventive initiatives, the government has
also passed legislation to make the reporting of gunshot wounds
mandatory and last December passed the Marijuana Grow-Ops Law to help
stifle the illicit drug trade.

"Premier McGuinty and his cabinet have taken some promising steps,"
said Flynn. "Oakville is one of the safest communities in Canada in
which to live. Working together, we intend to keep it that way."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake