TO MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, VINCE GASPARRO, AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA:

We, the undersigned, call upon the Member of Parliament, Vince Gasparro; the House of Commons; and the Government of Canada to strengthen gun control and anti-trafficking measures, reinforce penalties for firearm crimes, and invest in evidence-based prevention within provinces and municipalities to help youth and families thrive in safe, healthy communities.

Vince Gasparro is the MP for the House of Commons, so it is his responsibility to ensure the well-being of the community within the federal system. City councillor, Mike Colle, may also be involved as city councillors represent the Public: Act as the voice for residents and balance the well-being and interests of the entire community. 

THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE IN LAWRENCE HEIGHTS

Lawrence Heights is a vibrant and diverse community, yet residents continue to experience the fear, trauma, and loss caused by community violence, especially gun violence. 

From 2005 to the present, Lawrence Heights continues to increase in youth and gang-related violent activity and shootings, resulting in both injuries and death. Gun violence is proven to cause widespread psychological trauma, hypervigilance, and stigmatization for families and youth, making it difficult to go to school, work, or public spaces. Despite municipal efforts by the community, Mayor Chow, and the Toronto Police, gun criminals continue to persist as another shooting was reported last month of October 2026. With further research and referencing City Councillor, Mike Colle, preventing community violence within Lawrence Heights extends far beyond municipal and provincial efforts (Marchesan, 2026).

We are dealing with firearm trafficking, illegal ownership, lenient firearm policies, and underlying root causes–such as poverty, housing, healthcare, and employment within several vulnerable communities.

IN SUPPORT OF RESEARCH

• After the June 2025 shooting in Lawrence Heights, leaving 1 dead and 5 injured (CBC News, 2025), another resident has been a victim of gun violence this October 2026, showing gun criminals’ persistence even after the installation of a community safety hub by Mayor Chow and the Toronto Police Service. Supporting Colle’s statement–gun violence continues due to ineffective policies and justice reforms as gun criminals are given light consequences and bails (Marchesan, 2026).
• Referencing University of Toronto professor, Jooyoung Lee (2026), Canadian policies ought to address community disparities and need to prevent gun violence. Instead of more restrictions, intervention starts by strengthening communities with better healthcare, housing, or education. A further study shows that gun violence is often cyclical and can also be an act of retaliation by other victims. By having resources or people who can intervene using trauma-informed or appropriate approaches, we can break this cycle and provide more support for those affected by community violence (TVO Today, 2026).
• On Sunday, October 4, 2026 at about 8:20 a.m., police responded to a disturbance call close to Flemington Rd. and Blossomfield Dr. in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood, which was the scene of a mass shooting in June 2025. Police responded to an apartment building near Lawrence Avenue West and Blossomfield Drive, just west of Allen Road. 
  Toronto Police identified the victim as Christopher Gordon, 34. The suspect fled before police arrived and no description was immediately available (Marchesan, 2026).

   

• Almost all the crime guns in Toronto are coming from the United States of America, not Canada (James, 2026):

  Toronto cop, Marc Pinizzotto was killed on June 11 while serving a search warrant in North York. The guns they found did originate in Canada, they were from the US.

• Toronto police seized 364 crime guns just this year and around 73% to 88% of the guns they trace every year are from the States. CBSA states that over 90% of guns they catch at the border are also from the US.
  Paul Miller, a lawyer from Toronto, is trying to sue the American gun companies. He teamed up with American lawyer, Jonathan Lowy, who runs Global Action on Gun Violence.

• The lawsuit focuses on another victim who was shot and killed at a party in Ontario with a trafficked gun. They already filed it but haven't served it yet because they were almost out of time (2 year limit).

• Their argument is the companies know people are buying 15-20 guns at once and trafficking them, so they should be responsible. They want to force them to make guns with fingerprint locks so only the owners can use it.

• In the US, gun companies cannot be sued because of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Mexico tried and lost at the Supreme Court in 2025. So they're trying in Canada instead because that law doesn't apply here.
  The hard part is getting a Canadian court to have jurisdiction over US companies. But there was that Danforth shooting case (Price v Smith & Wesson) that got certified in 2025 so maybe they have a chance (James, 2026).

WHAT WE DEMAND FROM THE CANADIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:

1.  Reinforced law enforcement and justice reforms: This includes developing, evaluating, and voting on municipal policies, bylaws, and local ordinances. Taking city councillor Mike Colle’s example–a minimum 10 year sentence for anybody committing any crime with a gun and 20 years if it results in somebody’s death. These solutions address gun violence as a federal issue rather than the municipality alone.
2. Firearm Purchaser Licensing: Requiring permits, safety training, and background checks before a firearm is purchased.
3. Increase funding and operational resources for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA): Considering 88-90% of tracked firearms used in gun crimes are illegally obtained from the United States, border control investigations and screening must be enhanced for any goods and individuals entering Canada.
4. Strengthen investigations targeting organized criminal networks responsible for firearms trafficking in Canada: Knowing the majority of firearms involved in community violence are illegally trafficked by unknown sources, backing up intelligence-led investigations for illegal firearm trafficking can reduce the flow of firearms to gangs, criminal groups, and potential offenders.
5. Increased federal investments in community-based violence prevention initiatives–such as surveillance, policing, safety hubs in neighborhoods affected by gun violence, including Lawrence Heights.
6. Collaborate to address underlying root causes of community violence: Work in partnership with municipalities, provinces, community agencies, and residents to address underlying social determinants leading to community violence, including poverty, housing insecurity, healthcare, and systemic inequalities. 

During our visit to Lawrence Heights, our group has opened our eyes to the effects of community violence, especially gun violence, to the families and residents residing in this neighborhood. Every family and individual deserves to feel safe and secure in their community whether it includes violence, poverty, or other social barriers.

Sign this petition today to voice your support for Lawrence Heights and the communities affected by gun violence!

REFERENCES

CBC News Toronto. (2025, June 4). 1 dead, 5 injured in shooting in Toronto’s Lawrence Heights neighbourhood. CBCnews.  https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6784754 

James, C. (2026, October 30). Guns flow north. Toronto lawyer seeks to hold U.S. gun corporations accountable for Canadian deaths. Ricochet. https://ricochet.media/justice/guns-flow-north-toronto-lawyer-seeks-to-hold-u-s-gun-corporations-accountable-for-canadian-deaths/

Marchesan, J. (2026, October 4). Suspect sought after ‘disturbance’ in Lawrence Heights area building leaves 1 man dead. CityNews Toronto. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/04/suspect-sought-after-man-found-dead-inside-lawrence-heights-area-home/

Perreault, S. (2026, April 21). Firearms and violent crime in Canada, 2024. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2026001/article/00005-eng.htm

Report reveals alarming rise in gun violence in Canada; urges shift in national response  - Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. (2025, November 27). Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. https://socialwork.utoronto.ca/news/report-reveals-alarming-rise-in-gun-violence-in-canada-urges-shift-in-national-response/

TVO Today. (2026, October 9). Canada Has Strict Gun Laws. So Why Is There Still Gun Violence? | Unravelled [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lup1i21yKHE