PSH, eh? Gun Ranges and Target Shooting "result in people being shot and killed"

Yes folks, just like how Driver's Education leads to more tragic car accidents.

"Nobody can deny [it]"

Mayor David Miller wants to close recreational shooting ranges in Toronto, along with giving the city power to block gun manufacturers and wholesalers from opening new plants or warehouses.

"Nobody can deny that hobby directly results in people being shot and killed on the streets of our city," Miller said of sport shooting yesterday, amid debate on a possible gun bylaw.

Canadian Olympic pistol shooter and downtown resident Avianna Chao begs to differ. She says that if Miller gets his way, it could mean an end to her sport – and it won't make the streets one bit safer.

Miller wants to terminate leases with two gun clubs that have shooting ranges on city property, one at Union Station, the other at Don Montgomery community centre.

Chao, who will head to Beijing this summer to compete for Canada at the Olympics, began shooting at Don Montgomery and now trains primarily at the Union range.

It seems Canada's strict gun control laws are failing, so naturally they want to try more of the same thing, only harder:

They asked for a three-point plan to limit gun violence by:

• Making sure federal firearms marking regulations are stringently followed so guns can be traced.
• Appointing federal prosecutors to Ontario's guns and gangs task force.
• Closing legal loopholes that let gun parts be brought into Canada.

At the same time, city staff released a report calling for a bylaw that would allow the city to restrict or prohibit the making and wholesaling of firearms in Toronto.

Only police and the military should be allowed to operate firing ranges, the report says, calling for an end to the gun club leases.

Recommendations would apply to all firearms, including rifles and shotguns. But in a scrum with reporters, Miller directed most of his comments toward handguns.

Of course, questions arise, like why target the law-abiding for a criminal problem?

"It doesn't make any sense to be zeroing in on a gun club," he said. "We're an Olympic sport ... I'm not sure how shutting us down would help to cut the gun crime."

Sorry pal, it's only about appearing like they're doing their job. They're failing at reducing crime, so they compensate by looking like they're working harder, lest they be thrown out of office. It's more about justifying their paychecks in the face of consistent and utter failure.

It's about feeling safe, as Kaveman said, which "is like being safe, only different."

ETA: Unfortunately, Toronto may be undercutting the only kind of gun control that's proven to be effective: