[Teomaderm]

Right at this moment in Toronto, there are as many as 4,000 illegal guns tucked under beds, stashed in closets or hidden in dresser drawers.

Complicated amnesty laws around gun legislation have many owners confused. Now the city's Guns and Gangs unit is going door to door setting people straight.

"If you have to ask the question if you are licensed... I can pretty much guarantee you are not in compliance," said Superintendent Greg Getty, who works with the Organized Crime Enforcement unit.

So Getty and his team are going through tens of thousands of old gun registry documents to try and locate weapons where registration may have expired.

So far, they've gone through 5,000 and located 400 guns. Offending individuals are either given an opportunity to obtain the necessary permits and educate themselves on safe storage procedures — while Toronto police hold the gun for safe-keeping — or else the weapon is destroyed.

No one is being charged in the initiative, said Getty.

Chief Bill Blair said the ongoing initiative, which began in March, is crucial to the safety of the city.

So far this year, Toronto police have seized more than 1,500 firearms. Of those, about 70% were likely smuggled into Canada from the United States. But nearly a third of the weapons originated in Canada, he said.

If you think you may be in possession of an unregistered, illegal firearm, contact Toronto police for information at 416-808-2222.

You will not be charged, said Getty. Link

[Precturge]

"It can't happen here".

[Dwencejed]

"It can't happen here".

No, it can't. We have the Fourth Amendment; the Canadians don't.

I know most people think of us as all being one country, but Canada actually has its only laws, government and head of state. For obvious reasons, their head of state choses to live elsewhere.

[feeshyLew]

The cops in this city cruise the streets with sophisticated scanning equipment looking to tow cars with expired registration or too many unpaid tickets.

If you don't renew your handgun permit but hold onto your glock - expect a knock from the TPS.

For obvious reasons, their head of state choses to live elsewhere.

elsewhere . . . like Ottawa?

[Dwencejed]

The cops in this city cruise the streets with sophisticated scanning equipment looking to tow cars with expired registration or too many unpaid tickets.

And what has that to do with the Fourth Amendment?

elsewhere . . . like Ottawa? Look up the difference between "Head of State" and "Head of Government" and you'll find your answer.

[Precturge]

No, it can't. We have the Fourth Amendment; the Canadians don't.

I know most people think of us as all being one country, but Canada actually has its only laws, government and head of state. For obvious reasons, their head of state choses to live elsewhere.

Sorry, you're right. We, as Americans, are immune from all the evil and and nastiness that has pervaded humanity for millenia and today. We are immune from the sense of control and dominance that most other autocrats throughout history have expressed. We, being Americans, are innately superior above all other forms of life, and possess either a genetic or magical superiority that renders us above the frailties that have pervaded the human race for thousands of years. A government run by superiors like you and me can never turn against its people, despite track records like the Soviets and Germans killing, by some estimates, as much as 100 million, but that's just a bug hitting the windshield...

[Dwencejed]

Sorry, you're right. We, as Americans, are immune from all the evil and and nastiness that has pervaded humanity for millenia [redacted]

I hope you feel better having otten that off your chest.

My point was this: we have a system of government predicated on the notion that we citizens have certain rights which take priority over the powers of the government.

Canada does not.

[Precturge]

Again, we do?

Again, Americans, being the superior beings that we are, have powers over our government, unlike those horrible, stiltifying others. We have rights, definitely! Now, that said, because of the innocent children/evil terrorists/right-wing nut/left-wingnuts/cow-molesters/poor-people/disaffected-militants/crybabies/and everything-else our society demands shall be enforced! F--k you if you don't like it! In fact, we will tax you to shreds if you dare f--k with us.

Above all, no ban can ever happen because, being the inherently superior beings that we are, we are totally immune from the avarice and villainy that has permeated the human race for thousands of years. Blah! Corruption, politicians selling their constitutients....that sh!t only happens in Russia, right?

[Dwencejed]

Again, we do?

Again, Americans, being the superior beings that we are, have powers over our government, unlike those horrible, stiltifying others.

At this point, I'm going to suggest that you read up on the nature of the government of Canada and the UK before you continue and make a fool of yourself.

[elton]

Americans commenting on the culture of Canada is like a blind person trying to explain what the color blue is.

(I'll admit that I've yet to meet a Canadian that wasn't baffled by American culture as well.)

[MortgFinsJohnQ]

"Police go door-to-door in search for illegal firearms" is probably most biased, one-sided, over-the-top way you could headline that story short of throwing in the words jackbooted.

The proper headline is something like "Police contact owners of potentially expired licences to inquire on their status".

[jhkjurter]

Of course this can happen here, and there's no reason it shouldn't.

First, the article doesn't say that they are searching homes, only that they are knocking on doors and asking whether there is a gun in the house. That doesn't violate the constitution at all, and at least in this country the homeowners would be free to refuse to respond.

Second, were this going on here, police might have "probable cause" to search because they are visiting people who, it appears, purchased guns but never registered them, or let the registration lapse. It appears that this is illegal under Canadian law; thus, there is sufficient evidence of a possible crime.

Third, all of you gun lovers argue against new gun control laws with the mantra, "If we just enforce the laws we have ..." And yet, when there is enforcement, which is exactly what this is in Canada, you're all up in arms (pun intended). Not to mention whining and excuses ... "the paperwork is too hard," "how could they know it was a straw buyer" (re: the gun shop that was closed down).

If the law requires guns to be registered, and the police have reason to believe that a home contains unregistered guns, then I'm all for enforcing the law, which is exactly what's happening here. (Although, actually, they aren't even enforcing the law; they're offering amnesty).

[Teomaderm]

No, it can't. We have the Fourth Amendment; the Canadians don't.

I know most people think of us as all being one country, but Canada actually has its only laws, government and head of state. For obvious reasons, their head of state choses to live elsewhere.

This is why its posted in the "Global" section.

In all actuality a small part (very very small) of me wishes it would happen here......I have nothing to hide and I keep all of the documents, receipts for all of my firearms. They would be in my home for about 5 minutes...I would love to see the countless amount of people charged with possessing an illegal firearm....it would make me all warm and fuzzy inside...

[Teomaderm]

If you don't renew your handgun permit but hold onto your glock - expect a knock from the TPS.

What permit are you mumbling about? A LTCF? Anyone with a carry permit would be a complete moron to let their LTCF lapse.

[Dwencejed]

In all actuality a small part (very very small) of me wishes it would happen here......I have nothing to hide and I keep all of the documents, receipts for all of my firearms. They would be in my home for about 5 minutes...I would love to see the countless amount of people charged with possessing an illegal firearm....it would make me all warm and fuzzy inside...

A lot of people on the Right (and probably some on the Left) REALLY want to see it happen here; that's why guy sales are so high: a certain section of the population is just creaming themselves over the notional that one day the Feds are going to bust down their door and try to take their guns.

Your reason for saying you want this to happen is more rational than most, but it does beg the question: what a legal gun? My father owns a couple of guns which we inherited when my grandmother died (she lived in rural Western PA). We could prove they were part of her estate, but they were no receipts, and when my father looked into it, no legal mechanism to transfer title in that situation.

[Precturge]

At this point, I'm going to suggest that you read up on the nature of the government of Canada and the UK before you continue and make a fool of yourself.

While I would recommend you take a history class or two.

Our Constitution is worth little more than the paper it's written on.

Speaking of guns, are you aware that Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution forbids ex post facto laws? Yet, the so-called "Lautenberg Amendment" did and still does just that: Prohibit people from owning guns even if they were convicted prior to the 1996 enactment of same.

[Precturge]

First, the article doesn't say that they are searching homes, only that they are knocking on doors and asking whether there is a gun in the house. That doesn't violate the constitution at all, and at least in this country the homeowners would be free to refuse to respond.

A case could be made that this is unwarranted and intimidating, which seems to be the purpose.

Third, all of you gun lovers argue against new gun control laws with the mantra, "If we just enforce the laws we have ..." And yet, when there is enforcement, which is exactly what this is in Canada, you're all up in arms (pun intended). Not to mention whining and excuses ... "the paperwork is too hard," "how could they know it was a straw buyer" (re: the gun shop that was closed down). The Canadian gun registry is one of the biggest boondoggles in Canadian history. Yet, the gun control freaks keep pressing it. There is also some evidence that it can and may be presently used to generate shopping lists for criminals.

If the law requires guns to be registered, and the police have reason to believe that a home contains unregistered guns, then I'm all for enforcing the law, which is exactly what's happening here. (Although, actually, they aren't even enforcing the law; they're offering amnesty). It would have been better had this law not been created, since it serves no legitimate purchase other than to generate revenue and to potentially help arm criminals.

[Hoijdxvh]

"It can't happen here".

Whoa wait a minute.

Isn't this what the NRA and the gun nuts want governments to do-ie "enforce existing gun laws?"

Get your story effing straight.

[Dwencejed]

While I would recommend you take a history class or two.

I probably should; I know very little about Asian and Russian history; there are vast areas of ignorance I need filled it. I could also use a brush-up on my sub-Saharian African history, as it's been a while.

Speaking of guns, are you aware that Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution forbids ex post facto laws? Yet, the so-called "Lautenberg Amendment" did and still does just that: Prohibit people from owning guns even if they were convicted prior to the 1996 enactment of same. If that's the case, then that amendment won't stand up to a legal challenge. There's nothing that prevents Congress from passing or the President from signing unconstitutional bills into law. That's why we have a Supreme Court: to protect and interpret the Constitution.

[petrarkaponye]

Stupid Question: If you own a handgun in the US, are you required to register it? Is this the responsibility of the person who sells it to you?