Toronto shooting victims call for handgun, assault rifle ban

On the seven-month anniversary of Toronto’s Danforth shooting, close to a dozen victims and their families called for a ban on the private ownership of handguns and assaults rifles.

Two people, 18-year-old Reese Fallon and 10-year-old Julianna Kozis, were killed, and 13 people were injured when Faisal Hussain opened fire on Danforth Avenue on July 22.

The group organizing the press conference said those who experienced the devastating gun violence want to ensure their voices will be heard on the issue of a possible federal handgun ban.

Noor Samiei, a victim of the Danforth shooting, Reese’s sister Quinn Fallon, and Ken Price, the father of shooting victim Samantha Price are all spoke in favour of the federal ban.

Quinn Fallon, Reese’s younger sister, described the events of July 22 and said the pain and loss they feel without Reese and Julianna is indescribable.

“Because Reese and Julianna don’t have a voice anymore, we are doing this in their honour,” she said. “No family should ever have to go through what my family and the Kozis’ family had to go through.”

“Reese always talked about her future – her future at McMaster (University), becoming a nurse and how many kids she wanted and where she wanted to raise a family,” she said, adding her family now feels “incomplete.”

WATCH: ‘She was my best friend:’Sister of Reese Fallon calls for handgun, assault rifle ban

Quinn urged people to sign the e-petition calling for the ban on civilian ownership of handguns and military assault weapons for Reese and Julianna.

Ken Price said they are asking their elective representatives to support the ban.

Samiei, who was with friends eating ice cream on the Danforth when four of them were shot thanked the first responders and the Danforth community, those who helped on that night of the shooting and afterwards.

She read a letter from the victims of the Danforth shooting and their family to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, urging him to ban handguns and assault rifles.

The letter acknowledges it is not the only step that needs to be taken to stem gun violence but they believe it will be impactful and effective.

 

Patrick Macleod, a retired police officer and father of a victim of the shooting, said he sat on the couch while his daughter called from a bathroom after being shot at. He said like he did, it’s time for Canadians to get off the couch.

The MP, MPP and city councillor for Toronto-Danforth were also present.

MP Julie Dzerowicz has supported the e-petition in favour of the handgun and assault rifles ban. It currently has over 13,000 signatures.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders commented on the upcoming news conference saying, “Hopefully, these are platforms and opportunities for lawmakers to listen to the concerns and figure out what can be done from a realistic perspective.”

WATCH: Danforth shooting victims and family to speak out against gun violence

 

Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction Bill Blair launched consultations on the possible handgun ban. A report is due to be released in early 2019.

Toronto city council passed a motion calling on the federal government to outlaw the sale of handguns in the city just two days after the shooting happened.

While NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to allow cities to ban handguns, Tory Leader Andrew Scheer said he wants to tackle a surge of gun violence in Canada by targeting criminals who use weapons illegally, rather than supporting an outright handgun ban.

Toronto Mayor John Tory has also been supportive of a handgun ban.

With files from The Canadian Press