News Release

For Immediate Release
November 15, 2007

Attorney General Calls For Federal Action At Justice Ministers’ Meeting

WINNIPEG — Ontario's Attorney General Chris Bentley called on federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day to ban handguns, including through changes to the Criminal Code, at this week's meeting of federal and provincial justice ministers.

"We need to get these dangerous weapons off our streets now – before they are used," Bentley said. "The federal government has accepted the McGuinty government's push for mandatory minimum sentences and reversing the onus for bail when it comes to gun crimes, but they need to go further. The time has come for a full handgun ban."

During a session on firearms, Bentley called for a handgun ban through immediate amendments to federal gun laws, and spoke with Day about the issue.

"Current federal licensing and storage regulations are too weak. They don't go far enough to reduce the risk," said Bentley. "With more than 215,000 handguns licensed to private individuals in Ontario, there are more than 215,000 potential opportunities for theft and misuse."

The Toronto Police Service estimates between 30 and 50 per cent of guns used in crimes in Toronto are stolen from lawful owners.

"We want to do all that we can to fight crime and the causes of crime in our communities," said Ontario's Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci, who is also at the meeting in Winnipeg. "Ontario is making unprecedented investments in police, prosecutors, victims services and, probation and parole officers. We're doing our part. Now it's time for the federal government to step up to the plate and work with us to make sure all communities are safe."

Since 2005, the McGuinty government has announced more than $68 million in new initiatives to fight gun crime.

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