Experts agree: Trudeau's handgun ban would have no impact on gang-related gun crime

The Trudeau Liberals' tabled legislation that would enable municipalities to ban handguns through bylaws would have little to no impact on gang-related gun crime, experts say.

According to Vancouver-based gang expert Ranj Dhaliwal, the legislation would fail in it's attempt to curb gang crime.

"At the end of the day — just like any criminal organization — when they need to do something, they’re going to figure out a way to do it. So, if a gangster needs a gun, they’re going to get a gun," Dhaliwal told City News 1130.

The guns used by gang members, he says, are mainly purchased illegally from the United States.

"They will get one, if they need one," he continued.

"Just like anything, organized crime evolves. They figure things out, and the reason they’ve been around for so long is the fact that they are able to get their hands on things that the regular public cannot."

Those sentiments have been echoed by the likes of former Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders. In 2019, Saunders, who said that there was "no magic solution" to gun violence—even banning guns.

"If there are less people that are going to have access to guns in any way, shape or form, that's a good day," Saunders said in an interview.

"But you have to look at the investment. How much value it will have is the next question that needs to be asked and discussed."

Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Max Waddell said that a ban was not even worth attempting to implement. "If we think a ban on handguns is going to stop the flow of handguns into our communities, it's not," he said in an interview with CBC.

"Criminals are always going to be able to achieve that. That's why they're criminals and that's the underground element that exists."