Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Toronto Mayor David Miller are blaming not themselves, but the United States reaching a record high number of gun-related deaths in 2005.
Toronto had 52 gun-related deaths this year and Miller said, “The U.S. is exporting its problem of violence to the streets of Toronto.” He explained, "It's a sign that the lack of gun laws in the U.S. is allowing guns to flood across the border that are literally being used to kill people in the streets of Toronto.”
CNN’s article mentions John Thomspon, a security analyst at Toronto’s Mackenzie Insitute near the end who says “the number of guns smuggled from the United States is a problem, but Canada has a gang problem—not a gun problem—and Canada should stop pointing the finger at the United States.”
The Prime Minister has promised if re-elected late January, he will ban handguns that are already highly regulated by Canadian government.
Of this, Thompson said, “"It's a cop out. It's an easy way of looking at one symptom rather than addressing a whole disease," Thompson said.
Meanwhile, one gun-related item that is a product of American influence this year is Brazil’s overwhelming rejection of a referendum to ban guns in October. 65% of Brazilian votes secured gun rights. Some young Brazilians, growing up watching American films, were listed in reports as being incredulous they weren’t protected by something similar to the second-amendment which they assumed was an inherent right in all Constitutions.
