Toronto mayor calls for gun control in wake of deadly shooting

Toronto Mayor John Tory made an impassioned statement to his City Council on Monday following the deadly shooting in a popular Toronto neighborhood the night before. 

“I have said for some time that this city has a gun problem and that guns are far to readily available for far too many people,” Tory said. “This is an international problem and this is a domestic problem. There are far too many people carrying around guns in our city and our region who should not have them.”

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“You’ve heard me ask the question of why anybody would need to buy 10 or 20 guns, which they can lawfully do under the present laws,” Tory continued. “And that leads to another question we need to discuss: Why does anyone in this city need to have a gun at all?” 

Tory said in his call for a gun control debate following the deadly shooting in the city’s Greektown the night before that even if the discussion could prevent just “one of these incidents,” in his view, “it is a discussion worth having and having very soon.”

According to the Globe and Mail, a gunman opened fire on a busy street in Toronto, killing two people and injuring a dozen on Sunday night.

Local law enforcement officials said the suspected shooter also died, but it’s not clear whether he was killed by police or if he shot himself.

One woman was killed in the shooting spree and 12 people were injured, including a 9-year-old girl who is in critical condition, according to police. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered condolences those affected by the Greektown shooting on Monday morning. 

“My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible tragedy on the Danforth last night in Toronto, and may the injured make a full recovery,” Trudeau said on Twitter.

“The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave — and we’ll be there to support you through this difficult time,” he continued.

My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible tragedy on the Danforth last night in Toronto, and may the injured make a full recovery. The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave – and we’ll be there to support you through this difficult time.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 23, 2018

The Sunday incident follows another tragedy in Toronto in April, when a driver of a van plowed onto a sidewalk, killing 10 people and injuring 14.