In late July, a tragic shooting took place in Toronto, killing two people and injuring 13 others. The shooter was identified as a man named Faisal Hussain, who later committed suicide. According to CBC news, the city has had 228 shootings in 2018 thus far, a 17 percent increase from this time in 2017. And 29 of the shootings in 2018 have been fatal.
It is not just the United States with a festering gun control problem, but Canada and other countries as well. In fact, Canada has the fourth highest gun homicide rate. Needless to say, the most recent tragic incident has reignited the debate on gun violence and stirred the opinions of gun owners and gun control activists. And that’s actually a good thing, because discussing this issue can help bring awareness about the dangerous realities of gun violence, and the staggering amount of people, children especially, who are subjected to it. And only through frank discussion can we find practical solutions.
I agree with Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders who said, “There are some huge benefits that can happen as a result of this if we really are brave enough to have a full-some discussion and not just say, 'Police fix this.’”
I hope the aftermath of these shootings can open doors for citizens and law enforcement officials to come together and create preventive measures to tackle gun violence, before someone can pick up a gun and strike again.
Sabiha Basit
Centreville