Steven Del Duca to ban handguns province-wide

ONTARIO – With a provincial election only months away, Steven Del Duca promises to ban the purchase and use of handguns province-wide.   

“I’ve had it with Doug Ford’s open for business policy for guns.” Del Duca said, “the Ford Conservatives are putting the interests of the gun lobby ahead of the Ontario victims of gun crime they swore an oath to protect.  The result is handgun violence is spiralling out of control. The choice on handguns is clear, more handguns and gun crimes under the Ford Conservatives or a ban on handguns under the Ontario Liberals.”

Del Duca’s stance on handguns doesn’t come unwarranted. According to Stats Canada, handgun homicides have increased and made up 61% of firearm-related deaths in 2020 alone.

These statistics put Canada in the fourth rank among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in firearm deaths.

If elected, Del Duca will ban the sale, possession, transport and storage of handguns and plans to treat gun violence as a public health issue by funding trauma counselling for survivors and others affected by gun violence.

“Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns enthusiastically applauds this announcement from the Ontario Liberal Party,” said Dr. Najma Ahmed, Co-Chair, Canadian Doctors for Protection from Gun, “Gun violence is a preventable public health issue. Physicians in Ontario are increasingly treating gun injury victims while witnessing the devastating long-term impacts on patients and the health care system. Evidence from around the world clearly demonstrates that laws restricting access to handguns save lives. While our organization continues to call for a national handgun ban along with other measures, including investments in social determinants, we welcome any province and the political party willing to act on this issue.”

There plan will also include:

• Accepting the federal government’s offer to fund a buy-back program;
• Partner with the federal government to stop gun smuggling at the Ontario-US borders;
• Advocate extending the ban nationally so guns can’t be funnelled through inter-provincial borders.