Trudeau announces Day against Gun Violence amid 5-year-low in Toronto shooting incidents

Gun violence in Toronto is trending in the right direction with the number of shooting incidents at a five-year low, but police say there is still a long way to go.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday that the first Friday of June every year will be the National Day against gun violence.

“It’ll be a day of remembrance and a time to recommit ourselves to building a Canada-free of gun violence,” said Trudeau as he met with gun safety advocates alongside Raptors President Masai Ujiri at the OVO centre.

“We’re all together in this,” said Ujiri. “I think sports brings people together, I think sports brings peace in an incredible way.”

It comes at a time when violence in Toronto is in the spotlight, but the number of shootings in the city is down significantly.

There have been 110 so far this year, compared to 166 at the same time last year, which represents a 33 per cent drop and a five-year low.

In the same five years, 2020 had the most shootings in the first six months of the year, with 176.

Toronto police tell CityNews that although incidents have been decreasing since 2019, and trending in the right direction, they still aren’t below pre-2015 levels and that’s a concern.

The Guns and Gangs task force said most shootings are targeted and isolated and they’re working with agencies at all levels to identify root causes as well as partner law enforcement agencies in Canada and the United States to interrupt the flow of guns coming over the border and to stop their trafficking within the GTA.

And getting guns off the street has become a priority for the federal government.

“Gun violence is something we must fight on many different fronts,” said Trudeau.

The Senate is reviewing a government bill that would ban assault-style firearms, a bill that’s being opposed by the Conservatives, saying it punishes law-abiding gun owners.

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw and other police services across the country are also working to advance bail reform related to gun crimes.