Almost 100 busted with gun charges across GTA

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It was a busy day for cops across the GTA as police announced 98 arrests, 49 guns seized and 1,070 charges laid across three jurisdictions on Thursday.

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Police in Toronto, Peel Region and Durham Region all announced sweeps to get guns and drugs off the streets, even if only for a short time.

A short time because it won’t be long before those arrested are out on bail, no matter how serious the charges.

In Toronto, where police announced 48 arrests, 24 guns seized and 406 charges laid, officials also said 16 of those arrested were out on bail and in breach of their conditions when they were arrested this time.

In Durham, where 32 people were arrested with 16 guns seized and 184 charges laid, 13 were let out on bail before police even made their announcement.

“Out of the 32 individuals arrested, 28 were held for bail hearings. Predictably, 13 of those individuals were subsequently released on bail,” Durham Regional Police Chief Peter Moreira said Thursday morning. “Unsurprisingly, three are now wanted for breaching their new bail conditions, and we are working hard to locate these individuals, these bail violators.”

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Moreira expressed utter frustration with the system and the strain police services face in trying to keep criminals off our streets.

“Twenty-three percent of everybody we arrest for a firearms related offence is already out on a firearms bail,” the chief said.

It’s a problem faced by police and documented time and again.

Two weekends ago, police in Peel arrested four men including 32 year-old Traivon Grant. Grant was charged with several firearms offences and according to police was “wearing an ankle monitor and in the presence of his Surety at the time of the offence.”

It’s no wonder, Conservative Leader Pierre’ Poilievre’s saying of “jail, not bail” is catching. The cops pick these guys up and they are out the door and committing crime again before you know it.

Yet, asked Thursday morning about the shocking increase in gun crime, these arrests and the bail releases, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland had nothing to offer but platitudes.

“That’s why we have banned military-style assault weapons,” Freeland said.

This was what she called the Liberal government’s attempts to get guns off our streets. Except the problem is not someone with a firearms licence and an AR-15 in their gun safe, it’s illegal handguns smuggled in from the United States.

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That’s a point that York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween made earlier this week as he reported a 92% increase in gun crime over the last year and a 106% increase in carjackings.

“Illegal handguns have become all too easy to access with limited consequences for criminals and almost all of the guns being used in these crimes are illegal handguns, many of which are being smuggled across the border from the U.S.,” MacSween said.

Gun crime is up across the GTA, with shootings up 92% in York, 62% in Durham and 45% in Toronto. Thanks to the bail legislation passed by the Trudeau Liberals in C-75, bail is easier to get for these repeat offenders, even when it comes to gun crimes.

While they did pass some reverse onus provisions under pressure from police and provincial premiers, in most cases, even involving guns, judges and justices of the peace are required to issue bail as quickly as possible with the least onerous conditions.

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In Ottawa, Poilievre said it’s a shame that despite promises of change, Justin Trudeau isn’t firing his justice minister.

“The disastrous justice minister who’s give Canada a 50% increase in violent crime and a 120% increase in gun crime, he will keep his job,” Poilievre said.

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While making the plea for an immediate reaction, Poilievre said a Conservative government will stop the crime once elected.

Based on all the arrests and charges made across the GTA this week, plus all the criminals released on bail, something has to change – but that likely starts with changing the federal government.

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