Shooting violence in Toronto, Canada, has increased significantly

The Wall Street Journal reported on August 31 local time that Toronto, the largest city in Canada, has seen a significant increase in shooting violence due to the problem of gun smuggling from the United States. As of the end of August 2024, there have been 306 shooting incidents in Toronto, an increase of 50% compared to the same period in 2023.

The report said that this surge is partly caused by "trailer violence." In March 2024, a gangland shooting in northern Toronto killed the owner of a trailer company. The case remains unsolved and has since triggered a series of violent incidents. Canadian media have described the shooting incidents in Toronto as a "trailer turf war," putting the entire city on edge.

Authorities blame the surge in violence on gun smuggling from the United States. Canadian border patrol agencies say the number of guns seized at the U.S. border increased by 25% between fiscal years 2019 and 2024. Toronto police say as many as 90% of local gun crime cases involve smuggled American-made guns.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she has seen too many guns from the United States crossing the border. She has increased the city's public security budget and invested in programs to prevent teenagers from joining gangs, but the police still find it very difficult to keep up with criminals. Gangs smuggle ready-made guns from places like Ohio, Michigan, Texas and Florida in the United States and bring them north. It is much easier to buy guns in these places than in Canada.

To prevent hiding dirt and ugliness, Ontario Province where Toronto is located has stipulated that mandatory towing companies must be certified and tow truck drivers must pass background checks. The significant increase in shooting violence in Toronto has caused concern among local people and widespread attention from society. How to effectively solve the problem of gun smuggling and reduce the incidence of shooting violence has become an important issue that the local government urgently needs to solve.