SURPRISE, SURPRISE: REGISTERING GUNS

DOESN’T KEEP THEM OUT OF THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS

By Garry Breitkreuz, MP – Updated: August 26, 2004

On January 6, 2003, while commenting about the escalation of firearms crime in his city, Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino said: “A law registering firearms has neither deterred these crimes nor helped us solve any of them.”

Every day, newspapers across Canada report failures of gun registration to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.  Here are eight pages of examples we have found in our files.

NOTE #1: Registration of handguns has been mandatory since 1934.  The registration of rifles and shotguns was tried and failed during World War II.  The most recent legislation requiring everyone to register their long guns came into effect on December 1, 1998.

NOTE #2: Two million law-abiding licenced firearms owners are required by the Firearms Act to report their change of address within 30 days or face up to two years in jail.  But 131,000 convicted criminals who are prohibited from owning firearms by the courts are free to roam Canada without telling the police where they live. In May 2003, the federal government confirmed that tracking the criminals prohibited from owning firearms is not necessary to manage the firearms program, and therefore these convicted criminals are protected by the Privacy Act.

The National Post, August 26, 2004, Page A1/Front: A man holding a 20-year-old woman hostage at gunpoint in front of Union Station was shot dead by police yesterday as thousands of morning commuters and office workers looked on. The random hostage-taking came after the gunman assaulted and attempted to shoot his estranged wife in an office-building concourse. After the altercation with his wife, the gunman held his hostage tightly in his grasp for 33 minutes as the crowd watching grew. At times he pointed his weapon at the woman's head, at times straight ahead and into the street before them. One witness said he seemed to be scanning nearby buildings for snipers. He was highly agitated and did not respond to police attempts to negotiate. Police snipers snuck up beside him and killed him with a bullet to the head. Police later identified him as Sugstan Anthony Brookes, 45, of Ajax.  Mr. Brookes was reportedly imprisoned on March 13, 2003, on charges of assault, assault with a weapon and uttering threats. He was recently released on the condition he not contact his wife or children or possess a firearm. Ms. Brookes had also recently begun divorce proceedings, reports said

The Edmonton Sun, August 26, 2004, Page 5: Barrhead investigators have charged George Ladouceur, 32, with break and enter and committing assault causing bodily harm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, using a firearm in the commission of a kidnapping , uttering threats, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, three counts of pointing a firearm, and two counts of carrying a firearm while committing an indictable offence.

The Edmonton Sun, August 20, 2004, Page 16:  A 19-year-old Edmonton man appeared in provincial court yesterday following a high-speed chase during which he allegedly pointed a .22-calibre rifle at cops. The charges were laid after a 1991 GMC pickup, reportedly stolen from Innisfail, failed to stop for Leduc RCMP shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday. Randy McCarthy has been charged with two counts of pointing a firearm, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of a weapon obtained through crime, using a weapon in the commission of an offence, breach of a firearms prohibition, dangerous driving, flight from police and driving without a licence.

The Edmonton Sun, August 16, 2004, Page 4:  City cops busted a man wearing Hells Angels colours for carrying an illegal handgun behind a southside pub early yesterday morning. The man was found with a .38 handgun and shells when two EPS officers stopped him and two companions behind the Pig N' Wistle, 9912 82 Ave. around 1:25 a.m. Donald Paul Lanski, 36, was charged with five weapons offences, including unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order. He was also nailed with two counts of possession of a controlled substance - one for marijuana, another for meth. His companions, also wearing Angels colours, were hit with drug and weapons charges.

Vancouver Sun, August 11, 2004, Page A1/Front : The man who gunned down a woman in Port Moody early Monday morning, setting off a police chase that ended in his death, had served time for various violent crimes. Surrey's Antonio James Pinheiro, 47, was identified by Coquitlam RCMP Tuesday as the man shot dead in the shootout that erupted in Port Coquitlam, after he crashed his pickup during a police pursuit. Pinheiro had served time at Mission Institution in the early 1990s over a confrontation with his in-laws after his wife left him. His first crime happened Sept. 26, 1991 when Pinheiro learned that his wife had left him and taken their two children. In an attempt to track them down, he visited the home of his wife's parents. He cut the telephone wires to their home, broke into the house and threatened them and their son with a pistol. When they refused to talk, he held them against their will for a period of time. He then left, taking his brother-in-law, and returned home, where he was arrested. Pinheiro was released on bail four days later and, on Oct. 13, he attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the stomach. His actions violated his bail conditions, since he had a weapon.  After Pinheiro was released from hospital, he threatened and assaulted his ex-wife -- a second breach of his bail conditions. Pinheiro, who had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful confinement, two firearms offences, break and enter, two counts of breach of undertaking, and assault. He was sentenced to two years in jail in 1992. The latest incident involving Pinheiro unfolded Monday at Heritage Mountain Boulevard and Ungless Way in Port Moody, when a woman was shot while fleeing from a man dressed in camouflage. A passing motorist picked her up and drove her to a nearby ambulance station. As police arrived, the gunman sped off in a pickup truck, beginning a high-speed chase that lasted for 15 kilometres and through two municipalities. As many as four dozen shots were fired between police and the suspect as they sped down Lougheed Highway. The chase ended when the suspect crashed into another vehicle and was forced off the road by a Port Moody police car at Oxford Street in Port Coquitlam. A shootout between the RCMP, police and the gunman erupted and the suspect was shot. He was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital, where he died of his wounds.

Montreal Gazette, August 7, 2004, Page A6: There have been no arrests in the shooting of a woman in the St. Henri district Thursday evening, but police are still investigating the incident. A 30-year-old woman was wounded in the forearm after inadvertently walking into a street fight between two rival gangs outside a Notre Dame St. W. drugstore. Josee Laurendeau-Quesnel, a clerk in the pharmacy, yesterday recalled seeing a half-dozen youths fighting. "Some fled and one pulled out a small handgun and shot twice," she said.

Toronto Sun, August 2, 2004, Page 7: The robbery of an American tourist here for Caribana ended yesterday with the seizure of three loaded handguns and the arrest of a suspect trying to hide in a dumpster.  The victim, 20, was in front of a downtown hotel when he was confronted at gunpoint by thugs demanding the large gold and diamond necklace he wore. "They saw the huge necklace and decided they wanted it," Toronto Police Det. Peter Karpow said. As the three assailants fled with the $6,000 chain, the victim flagged down nearby officers who quickly gave chase. "There was a short foot chase and the officers rounded the corner just in time to see the top of the dumpster going down," Karpow said. "(The suspect) came out with his hands up." A loaded semi-automatic handgun with the "hammer cocked" was found on the man, Karpow said. Two other pistols were also recovered, allegedly dumped by two accomplices as they fled the early-morning mugging near Yonge and College Sts. The two .45-calibre and one .380-calibre guns were loaded and "ready to go," Karpow said.

Calgary Herald, July 18, 2004, Page A10/Front: In what is becoming a common scene for Calgary police, five men were arrested while allegedly attempting to make off with several hundred marijuana plants from a northwest grow op. Known as a "grow rip," criminals are targeting competitors' harvests by breaking into known drug houses. "It's becoming more prevalent," said drug unit Sgt. Roger Morrison, adding police investigate three or four incidents a month. "If you get away with it, how many (victims) are actually going to call the police?" On Friday, a quick-thinking neighbour called police to report several men trying to break into a house in the 300 block of Hawkview Manor Circle N.W.  When officers arrived, they arrested three men attempting to run from the home. Two others were cuffed near the scene. One of the men was carrying a fully loaded semi-automatic Beretta handgun with the safety off.

Ottawa Citizen, July 14, 2004, Page A1/Front: A gunman opened fire on a group of young people downtown last night, hitting three before fleeing down Colonel By Drive.  Witnesses at the scene, near the Elephant and Castle restaurant at the Rideau Centre, told police the man had what appeared to be an automatic weapon -- possibly an Uzi. Police say none of the three sustained life-threatening injuries. As of late last night, the gunman remained at large.

Edmonton Journal, June 30, 2004, Page B1: Jason Lundgren must serve at least 15 years in prison for tormenting and finally murdering his ex-girlfriend, Julia Moen, a judge ruled Tuesday. Lundgren shot Moen once in the head with a .22-calibre sawed-off rifle, then put the gun under his chin and pulled the trigger. Moen died in hospital eight days later. Her attacker, jailed twice in the past 10 years for assaulting two other former girlfriends, spent two weeks in a coma before recovering from his suicide attempt. He lost the sight in his left eye, needed a metal windpipe inserted and suffers from chronic headaches. The 32-year-old man pleaded guilty June 17 to second-degree murder, which carries an automatic life sentence with no parole eligibility for at least 10 years. The former oil rig worker and plumber was under two court orders prohibiting him from possessing guns, but still managed to get the rifle he used to kill Moen.

London Free Press, June 22, 2004, Page A1: Michael Dwight Allen, 33, was banned from owning firearms in 1997.  In February of 2002, he was acquitted on two counts of attempted murder in connection with a shooting in an after-hours club in London, Ontario after the two victims couldn’t identify Mr. Allen as the man who shot them.  On June 21, 2004, Allen pleaded guilty to two weapons charges in connection with an April 22, 2003 shooting in a London, Ontario pub.  Mr. Allen used a 9-mm Luger handgun. 

Winnipeg Free Press, June 17, 2004, Page B1: A man who was recently banned from owning a firearm for 10 years has been charged with manslaughter in the city's 13th homicide of 2004. Police believe Cynthia LaFleur died instantly when she was accidentally shot in the head as the 20-year-old suspect was showing off a shotgun to her and another male at LaFleur's Redwood Avenue home last Saturday. Police say LaFleur's six-year-old son, Aries, was sleeping at the time and was awakened by the gunshot. He went into the room to find his mother, then ran next door to get help. The suspect, a friend of LaFleur's, was arrested and charged yesterday with manslaughter. Jesse James Anderson, of no fixed address, remains in custody at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

The Toronto Sun, May 31, 2004, Page 16: Toronto police charged Marlon Fenando Jones, 27, with carrying a concealed weapon, discharging a firearm endangering life and breaking a court-imposed ban on the possession of firearms.  Police suspect gang-related grievances sparked the shooting in which Mr. Jones was wounded. 

Kingston Whig-Standard, April 30, 2004, Page 9: Last week, Thomas F. Green, 45, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in contravention of a 15-year weapons prohibition imposed in February 2003 after his second conviction for robbery.  Green also pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon – a sawed-off .22 calibre rifle.  Green has numerous convictions for property offences such as break-ins and thefts, drug possession and parole and probation violations. He was first sent to prison in 1996 for robbery.  At that time he was sentenced to five years and prohibited from having weapons for 10 years.  He was freed on statutory release in April 2000, but he violated his conditions and was sent back to prison seven months later.  Released again, he was convicted of his second robbery and sentenced to two years in prison.

Edmonton Journal, April 28, 2004, Page B5: Cory Wiltzen, 26, and Jessica Enokson, 22 were arrested on outstanding warrants.  After tracking down the couple, RCMP learned that they had not only stolen a vehicle, but they were also carrying a loaded, restricted firearm. 

Edmonton Journal, April 28, 2004, Page B7: On April 24, 2004, RCMP arrested James Leslie Holley, 29, and charged him with attempted murder, aggravated assault, use of a firearm during an offence, possession of a firearm while prohibited and breach of recognizance. 

The Vancouver Province, February 26, 2004, Page A11: Vancouver police, alarmed by the proliferation of handguns, are forming a "firearms interdiction team" to target chronic gun-users and get weapons off the streets. With three of the city's first four 2004 murders involving shooting deaths, police say they're planning a crackdown.  "It's a concern to the safety of the police, and the safety of the public," said Insp. Rob Rothwell, who heads the city's criminal-intelligence section. "Guns are connected to criminal activity, gangs, organized crime and the image of a tough guy."  Det.-Const. Martin Bruce, who's part of the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team, said many criminals are armed round the clock. "We go into nightclubs to do a walk-through and we'll find firearms discarded on the floor," he said. "There's more money involved, the stakes are higher and the risks are higher."  Bruce said handguns are the most popular weapon of choice for criminals, with Glocks and Rugers two of the more common makes. 

Vancouver Police Department, Media Liaison Section, February 25, 2004:  94% of the firearms seized in Vancouver in 2002 originated in Washington State; 41 firearms were seized in 2002; 45 firearms were seized in the first ten months of 2003; 90% were handguns.  In 2002, there were 17 incidents in which weapons were seized from Organized Crime figures.  In the first 10 months of 2003, there were 13 such incidents.

The Toronto Sun, April 7, 2004, Page 11: A couple from B.C. were arrested on a train at Union Station after an RCMP team allegedly found three kilos of cocaine and a loaded handgun. The Mounties said the arrests occurred Friday night as a railcar pulled in from Vancouver. RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Wathen said a loaded 765-mm pistol, and the drugs, which are worth about $45,000, were found hidden in luggage.  Danny Dyck, 26, and Krimson Aileen Lysak, 23, have been charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, and careless storage and transportation of a firearm. 

London Free Press, February 23, 2004, Page C4: City police found a loaded 9mm handgun during a search of a car they stopped on a Highway Traffic Act violation Saturday at 9 p.m. on Pond Mills Road at Thompson Road. Charged with six firearm- related charges under the Criminal Code is Evon Ross, 28, of London.

Edmonton Journal, February 20, 2004, Page B10: When the vehicle was searched nearly 700 grams of marijuana, worth about $10,000 on the street, were found. A search of the 45-year-old passenger turned up a loaded .22 calibre pistol. 

Toronto Sun, February 18, 2004, Page 17: A stolen handgun and crack cocaine were found after York Police said they stopped the car of a wanted Georgina man. During the bust, officers discovered a loaded .22-calibre Ruger handgun concealed under the living room sofa.

Toronto Sun, February 5, 2004, Page 17: A loaded .357 Magnum handgun and more than $4,000 worth of crack cocaine were seized, police said yesterday, adding the weapon was stolen in a Hamilton burglary a year ago.

Calgary Sun, February 3, 2004, Page 10:  Terry Anthony Wright, 28, died after being shot three times last February 16 at Club Social Latino, 1829, 54 St., S.E.  Amid tight security, Ryan Troy Smith, 31, was sentenced to nine years in prison – less two for time served.  Evidence showed a fight broke out over a previous assault charge.  That fight eventually led to the Latin after-hours club – ending in shots fired from two guns carried by the accused and the victim.  At the time of the shooting, Smith was also in violation of a previous 10-year court imposed ban on possessing firearms.

Winnipeg Sun, December 24, 2003, Page 7: Kenley St. Paul, 23, and a 17-year-old boy have been charged with discharging a firearm with intent, mischief endangering life, possessing a firearm while prohibited and possessing a prohibited firearm. William James Pangman, the 46-year-old uncle of former Manitoba Warriors president William Gary Pangman, told police somebody fired a shotgun blast into the front door of his residence at 467 Pacific Ave. about 4 a.m., shortly after he refused entrance to two males.  The two suspects, who are allegedly tied to the Deuce street gang, were arrested during a raid at a home at 28 Railway St.

Winnipeg Sun, December 20, 2003, Page 7: Police seized a loaded .22-calibre handgun and an undisclosed quantity of drugs and cash after raiding a well-known gang house in Point Douglas.

Winnipeg Free Press, December 20, 2003, Page A10: Three men were charged after a 22-calibre rifle was found under the front seat of a vehicle that had been stopped for a traffic violation in Brandon on Thursday.  All three were prohibited from possessing firearms. Richard Thomas Beam, Brian Ray Ramsden and Robert Leo Chambers, all of Brandon, were charged with possession contrary to a court order. They were released on a promise to appear in court Jan. 23.

Montreal Gazette, December 4, 2003, Page F6: Two men were arrested last week after police found loaded guns in the car they were in.  "The passenger of the car appeared to be very nervous and didn't want to get out of the car when the tow truck showed up," Castonguay said. When police Constable Pascal Daze went to him, he saw two guns under the passenger seat - a 9-millimetre pistol loaded with eight bullets and a .22-caliber rifle with four bullets.  

Edmonton Sun, November 27, 2003, Page 22: A man who opened fire on an RCMP truck in Assumption has been banned from handling firearms for 10 years. Harold Jeffrey Denechoan, 24, admitted to two counts of assault with a weapon, one count of assault with a weapon dangerous to the public, and one count of possession of a weapon while prohibited from handling firearms.  He was sentenced to a total of 46 months imprisonment.

The Chronicle-Herald, November 18, 2003, Page A1: The 35-year-old Shelburne County fisherman, Kevin Nickerson, was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to a slew of bloody assaults and death threats.  During the investigation, RCMP seized a .22-calibre rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun along with some ammunition.  But back in 1996, Mr. Nickerson was banned from possessing firearms for the rest of his life after he pointed a gun at someone. He was jailed five months for that offence. And in 1989, he was jailed for a year for careless use of a firearm.  When he was seven, Mr. Nickerson shot and killed his big sister with a rifle. The court heard that it was an accidental shooting, but Mr. Nickerson has threatened violence with guns ever since.

Edmonton Journal, November 15, 2003, Page B9: The gang unit found a large store of marijuana, some methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as two loaded handguns.

National Post, October 15, 2003, Page A8: Delio Pereira, 50, of Fennings Street, Toronto, joins the owner of an Ontario trailer park and a violent inmate on a pass from a correctional centre as being an accused in the unfolding conspiracy to murder of Eddie "Hurricane" Melo, a former Canadian boxing champion and high-profile Mafia enforcer. Mr. Pereira has a long criminal history and an apparent fondness for firearms.  He has had 30 convictions in 27 years and has been banned from possessing firearms three times.

Toronto Star, October 4, 2003, Page A02: Daniel Greig had been warned to stay away from guns as one of the terms of his parole after a previous infraction.  Even so, Greig acquired a six-shot, .44-calibre Smith & Wesson revolver, a .45-calibre Glock semi-automatic pistol, a .45-calibre Heckler & Koch semi-automatic pistol, a 12-gauge Franchi pump-action shotgun with a pistol grip and a collapsible stock and a M16, a .223-calibre Colt semi-automatic assault rifle. When Toronto police discovered his arsenal, the guns were fully loaded. Rounds were chambered and ready to be fired in the semi-automatic weapons and the shotgun. Justice Archie Campbell sent Mr. Greig away for what will amount to a total of 41/2 years.

Winnipeg Sun, October 4, 2003, Page 4: The Winnipeg police gang unit issued Canada-wide warrants for McIvor and Clinton (Macaroni) Alexander Letandre, 26, two Indian Posse (IP) members following the Sept. 26 shooting of Gene Malcolm, 19, at 135 Hallett Ave. Malcolm was shot in the back. McIvor and Letandre face numerous charges, including attempted murder while using a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent, possessing a prohibited loaded firearm and possessing a weapon contrary to a prohibition order.

Vancouver Sun, October 3, 2003, Page B8: Police uncovered a cache of illegal firearms after arresting a 25-year-old suspect, Donald George Hamilton, wanted for his alleged role in a double shooting Sept. 22.  At the time of his arrest Hamilton was in possession of loaded handgun. Police executed a search warrant at Hamilton's Surrey home after the arrest and recovered several restricted and prohibited firearms including an automatic assault rifle, nine millimetre handgun and a TEC-9 machine pistol, as well as ammunition, money and drugs. Hamilton was wanted in connection with a shooting in Surrey where two men suffered non life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The Moncton Times and Transcript, September 13, 2003, Page A9: The investigation started in March and involved investigators with the Moncton RCMP Joint Forces Operation Drug Section, the RCMP Moncton Jetway Unit and the Vancouver Police Department. The charges were laid by Moncton JFO. The four accused, who were in Moncton provincial court Wednesday, are Michel Boutin, 37, Alphonse Boutin, 72, Thomas Mitton, 24, and Joseph Pavlovszky, 25.  Michel Boutin and Alphonse Boutin are charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.  Mitton and Pavlovszky are charged with the same offence along with seven counts of possession of loaded prohibited firearms including handguns, shotguns, rifles and a switch-blade knife.

Vancouver Province, July 23, 2003, Page A15: Eight people were arrested and a cache of guns, ammunition, drugs and cash were seized by police at a West End highrise apartment.  Vancouver police Insp. Kash Heed, head of the drug squad, said the seven men and one woman have links to motorcycle gangs and are facing a variety of charges.  As part of a police operation that began in February, members of the drug squad and two teams of emergency response cops -- a total of 37 officers -- executed search warrants at four apartments in a building in the 1400-block West Georgia Street on Monday. As police were entering the apartments, someone tossed a loaded handgun from one of the suites on the 21st floor. It cleared Alberni Street and landed on a scaffolding on the other side of the street and was later recovered by police.  Police also seized six loaded handguns, two assault rifles, a semi-automatic rifle with a telescopic scope, a sawed-off shotgun and "copious" quantities of ammunition.

Montreal Gazette, July 22, 2003, Page A7: The witness also saw the man stuff a handgun into his belt. The witness called police, who arrested a man near LaSalle St. as he left the pharmacy, Longueuil police Constable Michel Soutiere said. The 42-year-old faces charges of having a prohibited weapon and violating bail conditions.

Chronicle Herald, July 16, 2003, Page A8: A second 17-year-old charged in the shooting was handed a nine-month custodial sentence, including six months at Waterville and three months' supervision in the community. He pleaded guilty last month to carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a handgun he was prohibited from having after a previous conviction.

Vancouver Province, July 15, 2003, Page A5: Ridge Meadows RCMP seized a loaded, unregistered handgun from a patron at the Viper Room nightclub early Monday. A 32-year-old man from Port Coquitlam was arrested for bringing the illegal firearm to the bar. Charges are pending

Toronto Sun, July 11, 2003, Page 28: Neighbours applauded after Peel Region police swooped down on a Brampton crackhouse, rounding up seven people and laying nearly 60 charges.  The raid on the Archdekin Dr. home by members of the North End street crime unit also turned up a loaded handgun, 15 grams of crack and assorted drug gear. Police believe the house was being used by Crip gang members from Toronto who moved west about a year ago.

Hamilton Spectator, June 10, 2003, Page A03: Wayne Anthony Lewis shouldn't have been anywhere near Hamilton when he pulled a gun on his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend and shot her to death. He wasn't supposed to have weapons either. But it took him only a few days after he stepped out of jail to get a gun and kill Elisse Phillips in a Stoney Creek apartment on June 5. At the time, Lewis was under house arrest in Mississauga after being released on $10,000 bail in connection with a drug trafficking charge in February.  He was banned from leaving the home of Wayne Eugene Lewis, who posted the bail. Wayne Anthony Lewis, who was listed in court documents as having no fixed address, was also banned from possessing weapons, cellphones or pagers and from possessing any narcotics. Those are typical bail conditions for drug dealers. Lewis stepped out of Maplehurst Detention Centre June 2 after vowing in court to uphold the conditions of his bail. Three days later, he shot Phillips before turning the gun on himself.

Ottawa Sun, May 16, 2003, Pae 18: An ex-con who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 1992 for shooting a man through the jaw with a .38-calibre handgun is back in police custody after a drug raid on an Ashton-area residence yesterday. Pierre Lahaie, 37, is facing various drug and weapons charges after provincial police officers raided a Beckwith Twp. home and discovered 576 marijuana plants as well as a sawed-off rifle and ammunition. Lahaie is charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, production of marijuana and breach of a prohibited order.

Toronto Sun, May 8, 2003, Page 31: Durham officers arrested a man wearing body armour and seized a loaded sawed-off shotgun during a routine traffic stop yesterday.

The Kingston Whig-Standard, May 6, 2003, Page 6: Two Toronto-area men were arrested on drugs and weapons charges after police received a tip Sunday. The men were driving toward Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory when they were stopped. Prince Edward OPP found a prohibited sawed-off shotgun in their car and an undisclosed quantity of marijuana.

Toronto Star, April 16, 2003, Page B07: A 19-year-old Mississauga man has been charged after police were told he had been shot. The injured man drove to the Trillium Health Centre, telling doctors he had been shot in the leg by an unknown assailant while in a park, police say.  Officers later went to a residence on Bristol Rd. W. and seized a loaded modified imitation handgun. Charged with mischief and weapons offences is Martino Leung.

Toronto Sun, April 16, 2003, Page 25: Police investigating three men hanging about a Brampton used-car dealer seized a loaded 9-mm Beretta from a man banned by court orders from having a firearm.  Police challenged three men near Railroad and Elizabeth Sts. at 12:14 p.m. Monday. One tried to stab an officer. The other two fled and pursuing officers saw one throw the handgun away. Police arrested all three and seized the weapon.  Randy Robinson, 18, of Elgin Dr., Brampton, faces weapons and assault charges. Jerome Michael Robinson, 21, of Jane St., Toronto, faces firearms-related charges, including four counts of possessing a firearm while prohibited.

Edmonton Sun, April 10, 2003, Page 18: City cops yesterday identified one of three suspects in a possible gang-related shooting that wounded two 18-year-old men. Cops said someone opened fire on five people in a parking lot near 100 Avenue and 105 Street about 7:40 a.m. Sunday. One victim was shot in the foot and the other in the buttocks. The gang unit is investigating and one of the two victims is believed to be a gang associate. Police issued a warrant yesterday afternoon for the arrest of Howard Beaumont, 23, of no fixed address. Beaumont is wanted for five counts of endangering life. He also faces five firearms charges, including possession of a restricted firearm while prohibited, said police.

Toronto Sun, April 10, 2003, Page 12: A gang of marijuana brokers -- who arranged weekly shipments of hundreds of pounds of B.C. crop to Ontario -- has been busted by police in the two provinces. The group, described as an Asian organized-crime group, used CP and CN Rail lines to ship boxes and goalie-size duffel bags filled with "B.C. Bud" to Toronto and then store the product in a Magnetic Dr. warehouse.  Police in Toronto and B.C. executed 15 search warrants on Monday, seizing more than $1.3 million, two loaded semi-automatic pistols, a loaded Tec-9 machine pistol and about 385 kilos of marijuana worth about $2.5 million wholesale.

Toronto Sun, March 19, 2003, Page 8: Since 1996, 3,660 people have been shot in Toronto -- including bouncer Randy LaTouche, who says the level of gunpoint violence in the city is "mind-boggling."  LaTouche was cut down by a bullet while he was trying to do his job. The 40-year-old still uses a cane a year after James Barnes fired a slug into his leg because he didn't like being told which exit to take.  Of the 3,660, 165 died, a veteran cop told court yesterday. "It's very terrible to know there's so many guns around the city," LaTouche said. "We all thought it was a gun-safe country, but we can see it's not really as safe as it was before."  He added that the stats show the courts "can do more."  Barnes, 32, is convicted of nine charges including aggravated assault and weapons offences arising from the Feb. 2, 2002 shooting of LaTouche and his colleague Gareck Nelson. "More than 3,000 people have been injured or killed in Toronto with a gun since 1996," said Crown Erin Winocur in urging Barnes be jailed from seven to 12 years. Defence lawyer David North urged three to three and a half years on top of 13 months pretrial custody. Winocur said the startling statistic "speaks to the strong need" for deterrence with respect to shootings in Toronto. Det.-Sgt. Rolf Prisor testified at Barnes' sentencing hearing that he recently compiled the statistics using department data, and they include only shootings in which someone was injured or killed.  "The prevalence of firearm use has increased steadily since 1996," Prisor said. "The highest numbers are found in the handgun category."

The Waterloo Record, March 19, 2003, Page B2: A one-year jail term was handed down yesterday to a Waterloo man convicted of trafficking in marijuana and cocaine. Christopher Crawford, 23, who police say has been closely associated with the Slingers street gang, was also sentenced for possessing a loaded prohibited handgun when he was arrested.

National Post, March 5, 2003, Page A15: A teenager wearing body armour and carrying a loaded semi-automatic pistol was arrested on Monday night in the same area of Regent Park where he was shot seven months ago. Police officers, responding to a radio call about a person with a gun, chased a suspect into the yard of Lord Dufferin School, near Berkley Street. A fully loaded .40-calibre Ruger semi-automatic handgun was recovered.

Edmonton Sun, February 26, 2003, Page 19: A man allegedly threatened to shoot arresting officers after a bouncer at a downtown nightclub had his life threatened for booting him out, say police. Police were called to the Caliente nightclub on Jasper Avenue near 108 Street about 3 a.m. on Monday after doormen at the club threw out a man who then allegedly threatened to return and shoot the bouncer. Officers stopped a man near the club carrying a loaded, large-calibre handgun and while he was being arrested, he allegedly threatened to go get another gun and shoot the cops, police said. Mouner Arabi, 28, is charged with seven weapons offences and two counts of uttering death threats.

The Waterloo Record, February 21, 2003, Page B5: Two homes in Wellington County were among eight properties raided this week during an OPP drug bust in which almost $700,000 worth of marijuana was seized. The homes were in Erin and West Luther Township. More than 3,600 marijuana plants and 7.65 kilograms of packaged marijuana were seized Wednesday, as well as growing equipment. Also seized were 16 guns and ammunition, including one gun that was loaded.  Eleven people have been charged and the investigation is continuing.

National Post, February 14, 2004, Page A1: Two men charged with raiding an armoured car and holding several hostages at gunpoint on Wednesday had each been deported to Jamaica three times and have prior criminal records for armed robbery, Toronto police said yesterday. "I think it's disgusting," Detective Sergeant Wilf Townley of the holdup squad told reporters. "I think that there's a sieve that allows these people to run in and out of this country." Dave Wilson, 32, and Esron Laing, 40, face 23 charges in connection with the armed robbery of an armoured vehicle followed by a hostage-taking at a nearby adult video store.  "Both these parties are known to us and have convictions for robbery before," Det. Sgt. Townley said. He added the police database lists both men as prohibited from carrying firearms or explosives.

The St. John’s Telegram, February 10, 2003: Police have rearrested a 35-year-old Lethbridge man, four days after he was released from custody, where he had been held on more than 40 domestic violence charges. Albert Rodney Waye has a total of 47 charges against him, including four counts of assault and one count of uttering death threats during an alleged incident involving his common-law wife and her children last August. He was arrested after that incident and released on his own recognizance. On Jan. 31, Waye was arrested again and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, six counts of assault, seven counts of uttering death threats, two counts of intimidation, two firearms offences and one count of unlawful confinement. He was also hit with 18 counts of breaching the conditions of his release. He was released on his own recognizance last Tuesday, but was picked up again Saturday by the RCMP for allegedly breaching two of the conditions of his release.  RCMP Const. Doug Brannen said the conditions of Waye's first release were extensive. Waye couldn't drink alcohol, he couldn't have contact with his common-law wife, he couldn't possess firearms and he had to live at a predetermined residence with a curfew, to name a few.

Toronto Star, January 21, 2003, Page B05: Police discovered child pornography and a loaded handgun after searching a Scarborough apartment Monday night. Robert Charles Sinclair, 24, of Toronto faces a number of charges in connection with the case.

Edmonton Sun, January 30, 2003, page 29: A 44-year-old Bonnyville drug addict who was handed a nine-month jail term yesterday is definitely in the running for the Dumbest Crook of the Week award. Court heard Lionel Normand was not allowed to be in possession of any weapons last August when he was busted trying to sell a prohibited M-1 military rifle and a 30-round magazine to strangers near a downtown gas station. Normand was sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to the weapons charges as well as to several other charges, including dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and hit and run. Provincial court Judge William Mustard also hit Normand with a three-year driving prohibition, a lifetime weapons prohibition, and fined him $150 for failing to appear in court.