From: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Cdn-Firearms Digest) To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Subject: Cdn-Firearms Digest V8 #794 Reply-To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Sender: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Errors-To: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Precedence: normal Cdn-Firearms Digest Monday, December 19 2005 Volume 08 : Number 794 In this issue: CON HELD IN COP SHOOT GUNPLAY WORRIES ELECTION HOPEFULS Toronto Star Column: Tory astute on roots of violence Man shot to death on hunting trip with friend A grim four months in Hamilton Shooting suspect had gun ban: Officer fired upon Police appeal to black leaders: Gun-ban man charged after shooting RECENT RASH OF SHOOTINGS IN CITY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:21:22 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: CON HELD IN COP SHOOT PUBLICATION: The Toronto Sun DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: 3 ILLUSTRATION: 1. photo by Mark O'Neill An officer was shot at by one of two men who robbed a customer using this bank machine on King St., west of Yonge. 2. photo of JESSE LAMONDAY Slain in 2003 BYLINE: JONATHAN JENKINS, TORONTO SUN WORD COUNT: 361 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CON HELD IN COP SHOOT OFFICERS CHASING ATM BANDITS NARROWLY ESCAPE HARM AS 'WEEDMAN' ALLEGEDLY FIRES POINT-BLANK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A year and two days after pleading guilty to weapons offences in a deal that saw a first-degree murder charge dropped, Sirvon Edwards is back in jail, accused of shooting at a Toronto cop during a downtown foot chase. "It just goes to show it can happen any time, anywhere," Det. Leo MacDonald said of the near-miss. "The officer is very lucky he wasn't hit with this bullet. It turned out well for everybody but it just as easily could have turned ugly." MacDonald said the cop and the shooter were a mere three metres apart and closing in when the shot was fired around 11:30 p.m. Saturday near King and Jordan Sts., just west of Yonge St. A man had been getting cash from an ATM on King when he was robbed by two men, one of whom pushed a revolver in his face. CRUISER FLAGGED DOWN As the two robbers headed east on King, MacDonald said the victim spotted a cruising patrol car and flagged it down. "They get out of the car and start chasing them right away," MacDonald said. "The chase started, the shot went off and he was caught, within seconds." After firing at the officer, the gunman dropped his weapon and was tackled. The second officer abandoned his pursuit of the other bandit -- who remains at large -- and helped to arrest the alleged gunman. "There was a bit of a struggle," MacDonald said. One cop has five years service, the other 17, but it's not known whom was fired upon. All the victim's money was recovered and he suffered only an abrasion on his cheek. The incident comes just three days after Laval Const. Valerie Gignac, 25, was shot dead during a standoff outside Montreal. On Dec. 15, 2004, Edwards, 23, pleaded guilty in Newmarket court to four weapons offences after prosecutors agreed to drop a first-degree charge in the murder of Jesse Lamonday, 21. He was sentenced to 50 months in jail but was given 38 months credit for time served, leaving a sentence of 12 months. It's not known if he was released earlier on parole or statutory release. A friend of Edwards, Donald Justin Berry, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case and was sentenced to life in prison. Lamonday was shot dead over $10 worth of dope, court was told last year. Edwards, known as "the Weedman," had sold him the drugs on credit. On May 11, 2003, Edwards and Berry both carried loaded handguns to Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan and confronted Lamonday. Berry shot him dead in front of his girlfriend. In handing down the one-year sentence, Justice Ted Minden said Edwards had lived a life premised and dependent on crime. "Sadly, it would appear the prospects of rehabilitation seem remote," Minden said. Edwards is charged with armed robbery, pointing a firearm, two counts of using a firearm in an offence, two counts of possessing a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a weapon, attempted murder, aggravated assault, discharging a firearm, assault with intent to resist arrest, failing to comply with probation, possession of marijuana and four other weapons offences. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:21:51 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: GUNPLAY WORRIES ELECTION HOPEFULS PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Sun DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: 4 BYLINE: STEVE RENNIE, OTTAWA SUN WORD COUNT: 174 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GUNPLAY WORRIES ELECTION HOPEFULS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ With two incidents of gunplay in as many weeks in their riding, Ottawa-Centre residents are worried about growing gun violence. And they're not alone. "Coming on the heels of the tragedy of a couple of weeks ago (in Chinatown), it's pretty disturbing," federal Tory candidate Keith Fountain said of yesterday's shooting in the Glebe. He said he was shocked to hear about the shooting, which happened just two blocks from his campaign office. "It not only happened in the riding I'm running for, it happened in the area in which I grew up," he said. "It's a quiet residential neighbourhood, so it's particularly shocking that it happened here." NDP candidate Paul Dewar said he's sensing more concern about gun violence from the community as he campaigns door-to-door. 'ENFORCE' LAWS "The fact that we've had a shooting in our community is obviously of grave concern," he said. "People are concerned. Generally speaking, there seems to be more (gun violence) in our communities and they want to know what can be done." Dewar said the shooting is further indication clear lines must be drawn between "what is allowed in our community and what is not." To do that, Fountain said existing gun laws must be better enforced to combat gun violence. "We've got to do a lot more to enforce the existing laws that we have through a combination of political will and more police on the street," he said. Repeated calls to Liberal candidate Richard Mahoney and Green Party candidate David Chernushenko were not returned yesterday. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:21:51 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Toronto Star Column: Tory astute on roots of violence PUBLICATION: The Toronto Star DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: ONT SECTION: Editorial PAGE: A26 BYLINE: Carol Goar WORD COUNT: 690 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tory astute on roots of violence - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Tory can extemporize fluently on almost any subject, but knows there are times to shut up and listen. The Ontario Conservative leader is the embodiment of white, upper class privilege, but pushes himself out of his comfort zone. The chief of the Official Opposition recognizes he doesn't have the power to make things happen, but keeps putting forward ideas and suggestions anyway. For these reasons, as much as his recommendations, Tory's report on youth violence, released last week, is worth reading. It doesn't offer any bold new solutions to the rise in gun crime that has forced Torontonians to look at their once-safe city through new eyes. Nor does it contain any insights that haven't been put forward by community activists, parents, teachers, police and young people themselves. But it connects the debate at Queen's Park with the reality in troubled neighbourhoods. And it gives readers an opportunity to sit down - along with Tory - with families in St. Jamestown, youth workers in east Scarborough, tenants of Flemingdon Park and parents who have lost their kids. The 51-year-old lawyer, businessman and long-time political organizer spent almost a year reaching out to those who know how violence feels. Most of his neighbourhood visits were made out of the public eye. "I'll never pretend I understand what it's like to be a single mother or to live in public housing," he said. "But people spoke easily. I got a torrent of communication back when I raised the subject." On Dec. 12, he released his plan, warning that none of the popular prescriptions - more police, tougher sentences, better social programs - would work in isolation. "There has never been one magic solution," he said. "It will take a balanced combination of measures." Tory made 22 recommendations, some mirroring what the Liberals are already doing and some calling for new approaches. Here are a few of his proposals Create an Ontario crime reduction commissioner to pull together the disparate efforts various levels of government, police and community groups are making to tackle gun violence. Too often, there is little communication or co-ordination. Give police the power to conduct warrant sweeps of high-crime neighbourhoods to crack down on lawbreakers who have eluded arrest. This sort of preventative police action would take place only after consultation with community leaders. It would have to represent the will of law-abiding, traumatized, citizens. Set up a scholarship program for kids from high-risk neighbourhoods. On the completion of each year of high school, these students would be eligible for $500 to be put toward university, college or apprenticeship training. The cost, Tory says, could be split equally between Ottawa and Queen's Park using existing post-secondary funding. Ask every board of trade and chamber of commerce in the province, beginning in Toronto, to challenge its members to create at least one internship for a young person from a high-risk neighbourhood. Revise the "one size fits all" education funding formula introduced by former Conservative premier Mike Harris so extra resources can be directed to schools in troubled neighbourhoods. The rest of Tory's suggestions - minimum sentences for gun-related crimes, more police on the streets and a stepped-up campaign to stem the flow of illegal guns into the country - are already being discussed or tried. But what is most revealing are the discoveries he made that couldn't be converted into pithy recommendations. Parents of at-risk youth readily identified themselves as part of the problem, but said they couldn't fulfil their family responsibilities and earn enough to support their kids. "I came to the conclusion that people are calling out for help. To do nothing is not an option." People living in violence-plagued neighbourhoods were as frustrated as the police and the politicians by the failure of the courts to get repeat criminals off the streets. "I didn't even have to stimulate the discussion. It came up time after time." Kids from rough neighbourhoods who'd succeeded in sports, school or the entertainment world were committed to staying. "After all the tragedy, I would have thought they'd want a ticket out of there. But they didn't. That really impressed me." Tory's report attracted little attention. He wasn't surprised. He knew that, with a federal campaign going on, people getting ready for Christmas and the Legislature closing for two months, an opposition report on youth violence wasn't likely to make headlines. He hopes the government will steal some of his ideas. More than that, he hopes the people who let him into their lives will say Yes, that's what we told him. Carol Goar's column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:22:16 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Man shot to death on hunting trip with friend PUBLICATION: The Record (Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo) DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Final SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 SOURCE: Canadian Press DATELINE: REDCLIFF, ALTA. WORD COUNT: 47 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Man shot to death on hunting trip with friend - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A southern Alberta man is dead after going hunting with a friend. Police say they are still trying to determine whether the incident was an accident. RCMP say the 19-year-old and a male friend were walking in a field near Redcliff, Alta., west of Medicine Hat, on Saturday afternoon when he was shot. He was pronounced dead when he arrived at hospital. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:22:21 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: A grim four months in Hamilton PUBLICATION: The Hamilton Spectator DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Final SECTION: Local PAGE: A3 SOURCE: The Hamilton Spectator WORD COUNT: 237 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A grim four months in Hamilton - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eight people have been killed or wounded in a series of Hamilton shootings since September. Police have linked at least five to gang violence. * The string of incidents began Sept. 9 when Niagara Falls, N.Y., resident Michael Parmer, 22, was gunned down at the C.D. Bar Club on Ottawa Street North. Nobody has been charged in the killing. Deputy police Chief Tom Marlor said last night that homicide investigators have not tied the homicide to street gang violence but have not discounted the possibility. * The next killing was Oct. 4 when 38-year-old Phillip Robinson was killed with a handgun on Barton Street East. Mark Steven Whitley is charged with first-degree murder. It is not considered a gang case. * On Oct. 21, two men were wounded in a brazen double shooting at a Quigley Road apartment building, which police say was a clash between rival street gangs the Crips and the Bloods. Two young men, 18 and 20, were shot in the legs and ankle around 3 p.m. that day. The building at the time was swarming with children. * Eight days later, a young man in his 20s was shot three times in the groin and legs in an early-morning drive-by shooting in the intersection of Sanford Avenue North and Wilson Street in central Hamilton. The victim was walking alone around 3:30 a.m. when he was hit by three bullets fired from a passing car. Police were investigating gang links in that attack. * Saturday's shootout at the Ol' Continental bar on Gertrude Street left three people wounded -- one of them an innocent bystander. Police say the other two victims, who are also suspects, belong to rival gangs. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:22:21 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Shooting suspect had gun ban: Officer fired upon PUBLICATION: National Post DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Toronto SECTION: Toronto PAGE: A12 / Front BYLINE: Melissa Leong SOURCE: National Post, with files from CanWest News Service WORD COUNT: 558 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shooting suspect had gun ban: Officer fired upon - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A man facing a lifetime weapons ban has been charged with attempted murder after firing a shot at a police officer who was chasing him through downtown on Saturday night. While on a routine patrol, police were waved down by a man who had been robbed at gunpoint. At about 11:35 p.m., the man had withdrawn money from a bank machine on the north side of King Street West and Jordan Street when two men approached him. One man pulled out a loaded revolver and pointed it at the victim. The armed man snatched a wad of cash from the victim and ran off eastbound on King Street West toward Yonge Street. The victim then pointed out the robbers to police and the two officers split up to pursue them on foot. While running, the armed robber shot a single bullet at the officer who was in pursuit. The bullet missed and the officer tackled him to the ground. "The foot-chase only lasted a couple of seconds," said Detective Leo MacDonald. "There wasn't a lot of pedestrian traffic there at the time but there were people sitting nearby in a restaurant." The weapon and ammunition were recovered and the robber was taken to 52 Division. Det. MacDonald said police have not found the bullet that was fired. The officer was wearing a bulletproof vest, he added. The second man involved in the robbery escaped capture. Sirvon Pierre Edwards, a 23-year-old Toronto resident, is charged with numerous offences including armed robbery, possession of marijuana, assault with the intent to resist arrest, attempted murder and not complying with his probation. Last December, Mr. Edwards, then a Vaughan resident, reportedly pleaded guilty to a variety of weapons charges -- including possession of a loaded restricted firearm when not licenced -- in relation to the 2003 Mother's Day murder of Marcel Jessie Lamonday, a 21-year-old man, outside the front gates of Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan. He was sentenced to a year behind bars in addition to the 19 months he spent in pre-trial custody. Police would not comment on Mr. Edwards' criminal history; however, if he had served his full time in jail he would have been released sometime last week. He was also sentenced to three years' probation and a lifetime weapons ban, according to news reports. He was originally charged with first-degree murder. Another young man, Donald Justin Berry, was sentenced to life in prison for shooting Mr. Lamonday to death during the fight outside the amusement park. In Toronto this year, there has been an increase in the proportion of gun-related homicides, with 50 of 74 killings involving a gun, officials said. The last person to die from a gunshot wound was car salesman Sepehr (Danny) Fatulahzadeh-Rabti. The 25-year-old had gotten into an argument with two customers over a car lease and the fight spilled outside, where Mr. Fatulahzadeh-Rabti was shot in the head and chest. Family and friends were outraged when media reported that one of the suspects accused of killing him was released on bail for weapons charges less than a month before the shooting. This month, Prime Minister Paul Martin unveiled his gun policy in the Jane Street and Finch Avenue West neighbourhood. He promised a Liberal government would toughen weapons penalties, pump another $325-million into policing and ban handguns, which are already severely restricted. The plan, which will cost $590-million over five years, will offer an amnesty program and compensate gun collectors and handgun owners with "fair market value" compensation. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:22:23 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Police appeal to black leaders: PUBLICATION: The Hamilton Spectator DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Final SECTION: Local PAGE: A1 BYLINE: Paul Morse SOURCE: The Hamilton Spectator WORD COUNT: 394 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Police appeal to black leaders: Let's work together to beat the gangs - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Police have appealed to Hamilton's black community to help combat street gang violence that claimed three more shooting victims on the weekend. Black leaders agree gun violence among a segment of black youth is taking a terrible toll on their community. They say they are open to dialogue with the police and civic leaders to find ways to stop the violence. Deputy police Chief Tom Marlor yesterday called on "community partners" to help fight the spate of shootings in Hamilton since the fall. "We would like to work with members of the black community and we're open to ideas on how we can reduce the violence in the community," Marlor said. "Most of these shootings seem to involve young black men." Lloyd Turner, program co-ordinator of the Afro-Canadian Caribbean Association of Hamilton, said this is the first time police have appealed directly to the black community to fight the gang culture. "I'm glad if they're saying it publicly because it will make people understand what is going on," Turner said yesterday. Hamilton's black community has to "bring our youth closer to ourselves and denounce these gangs," he said. "It's terrible to see us gunning down one another." Only a fraction of Hamilton's 20,000-strong black community is involved in street gang crime, he said. "We have to get together and deal with the 1 per cent who is causing problems for the rest of us." Turner said his association has started a youth forum to address street gang violence, along with women's programs that help feed information about illegal gang activities. Now, Turner said, his association is forming a "men's group to get our sons off the street by getting them back and putting some sense in their heads." The idea is to use built-in respect for family and authority figures to reinforce good behaviour, along with the concept that true masculinity and maturity is achieved through good citizenship. "Until men really make themselves men and take responsibility, the young ones will keep getting out of line," Turner said. Hamilton Mayor Larry Di Ianni yesterday pledged to help facilitate co- operation between police and the black community, but warned the work must involve an appeal to broader communities. "Whatever can be done should be done," Di Ianni said, but cautioned the appeals must cut across ethnic lines in the city. The police call for help from the black community did not go over well with other Hamilton politicians. Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead said he understands that gang violence in the city involves people from more than one ethnic group. "I would have preferred to stay away from ethnicity," he said. "It's a youth problem ... To single out one group is unfortunate." Sam Merulla, councillor for Ward 4, said he has already put a street gang violence task force into place. Merulla admitted the city is still in the process of figuring out who should be on it. "Police didn't seem to feel it was necessary at the time," Merulla said. "They said there was no issue, that this was not out of the ordinary." Merulla said the current round of violence is beyond race. "It has more to do with cultural aspects in the youth environment, especially the Americanization of southern Ontario," he said. pmorse@thespec.com 905-526-3434 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:22:25 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: Gun-ban man charged after shooting PUBLICATION: Montreal Gazette DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: A14 COLUMN: Fast Track SOURCE: CanWest News Service; CP DATELINE: TORONTO WORD COUNT: 131 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gun-ban man charged after shooting - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A man facing a lifetime weapons ban has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing a shot at a police officer chasing him through downtown Toronto on Saturday night. Officers were waved down by a man who had just been robbed at gunpoint after withdrawing money from an ATM machine. The victim pointed out the men and, while running, the robber shot once at the cop who was on his tail. The bullet missed and the officer tackled him to the ground. Sirvon Pierre Edwards, a 23-year-old Toronto resident, is charged with numerous offences including armed robbery, possession of marijuana, attempted murder and not complying with his probation. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:22:33 -0600 (CST) From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User) Subject: RECENT RASH OF SHOOTINGS IN CITY PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Sun DATE: 2005.12.19 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: 4 WORD COUNT: 150 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT RASH OF SHOOTINGS IN CITY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Incidents of gunfire in the city the past month: - - Dec. 13: A Grenon Ave. home in the west end is shot up in an apparent drive-by shooting at 11:30 p.m. Police believe the target may have been someone on foot near the home. No one was hurt and no suspects have been identified. - - Dec. 6: Tailang Liu and Linhai Tian, both 20, are shot to death at the Fullhouse Karaoke Tea Cafe on Somerset St. W. A week later, police issue a Canada-wide arrest warrant for Fu Kwok Wei, 27, of Vancouver. - - Nov. 27: A 21-year-old man is sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after he was shot in the arm outside a Gatineau bar shortly after 3:30 a.m. Two 26-year-old Ottawa men are arrested and charged. - - Nov. 24: Chris Tessier, 22, is shot in the chest during a drive-by shooting outside his Baycrest Dr. townhouse about 3 a.m. Earlier, Tessier had been in the Byward Market when shots were fired outside the Bare Fax strip club at about 1:15 a.m. Tessier's injuries were non-life-threatening. ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V8 #794 ********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:akimoya@cogeco.ca List owner: mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca FAQ list: http://www.magma.ca/~asd/cfd-faq1.html and http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/Faq/cfd-faq1.html Web Site: http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/homepage.html FTP Site: ftp://teapot.usask.ca/pub/cdn-firearms/ CFDigest Archives: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/~ab133/ or put the next command in an e-mail message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca get cdn-firearms-digest v04.n192 end (192 is the digest issue number and 04 is the volume) To unsubscribe from _all_ the lists, put the next five lines in a message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca unsubscribe cdn-firearms-digest unsubscribe cdn-firearms-alert unsubscribe cdn-firearms-chat unsubscribe cdn-firearms end (To subscribe, use "subscribe" instead of "unsubscribe".) 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