TORONTO – Today we had a chance to make a real difference in the lives of people affected by gun violence. Bill 30, Fighting Back Against Handguns Act, would have given municipalities the tools to do something about gun violence by restricting the sale of handgun ammunition.
Shootings in the City of Toronto are increasing at a horrifying rate with three gun related homicides in the last 48 hours. Other regions in Ontario are also struggling to deal with this crisis.
Today the members present in the Ontario Legislature had an opportunity to take a stand.
Conservatives were clear on their position – they spoke against a ban on handgun ammunition. They’ve shown they are unwilling to take simple, straightforward action and have a narrow view of the problem.
The largest disappointment is in the NDP who spoke about witnessing gun violence in their communities but were not willing to put it to a recorded vote, despite the fact the regions they represent are becoming more and more dangerous.
They could have stood up and allowed for a vote on my bill to restrict the sale handgun ammunition. They could have stood together with Liberal and Green party members in the fight against gun violence.
Both parties chose politics over principals.
The casualty of this result are the thousands of victims and their families who looked to elected members to use every available legislative tool to do something about gun violence.
I stood comforting crying mothers and youth who were overwhelmingly shocked at today’s result. Despite my disappointment in the bill not passing, I know together we will continue the fight to end gun violence.