TORONTO TAKES STEPS TO FIGHT GUN VIOLENCE

The provincial government has teamed up with Toronto's police force to
combat gun-related crimes in that city.

The problem of shootings in Toronto has escalated dramatically over
the summer and the problem is now being addressed.

The plan announced yesterday includes "blitz" inspections of gun businesses,
creating gun amnesty to get more weapons off the streets, improving
Ontario's witness protection program to encourge residents to come forward,
and putting more emphasis on community impact statements in seeking tougher
courtroom sentences.

While the situation pertains to the problems in Toronto, Waterloo
Region should take a proactive role and implement similar initiatives
immediately.

Residents only have to look at past trends to realize that gun
violence will become a bigger problem here. Issues like gang violence,
marijuana grow houses and use of crystal meth were problems in the big
city before they moved to smaller communities.

Waterloo Region has been a leader in policy when it comes to issues
such as cigarette smoking. It's time to get tough on guns now before
it becomes a deadly statistic later.