Necessity of a firearms bylaw questioned by some people at meeting

The bylaw would also allow for exemptions, including shooting within the defined areas on properties 10 acres or larger that are zoned rural if it is done in protection of property from wildlife nuisances and shooting a bow for hunting on properties of at least five acres.

One man charged he was "absolutely appalled" at what was being proposed, stating it would allow the firing of guns that could kill an elephant.

"It's an embarrassment," he declared.

He also said lessons for the handling of guns are easily forgotten in the field, adding boundaries where they can be used are not respected. He said his sister lives on a farm near Guelph, which is fully signed to keep hunters out, and she had to deal with a deer that had been shot and gutted on her land.

He charged the bylaw had been "plagiarized' from other municipalities (a practice Somerville said is common). He added he realized there might be a problem with pests attacking livestock, requiring a farmer to use a gun. Beyond that, he didn't see the need.

There was a debate in the audience on how far a bullet could travel, with the man arguing King doesn't need bullets that can go some three miles.

Walt Peacock, who's in charge of the Township's bylaw enforcement department, said dangerous use of guns would be a police issue, but the man countered that not allowing guns in King would be the answer.

Somerville tried to assure him the proposal was suitable to King, but the man wasn't sold, maintaining he was still "appalled."

"I might even run for mayor of this township," he declared.

John Almond, a fish and wildlife specialist with the Ministry of natural Resources commented about the only time a highpowered rifle would be used for hunting would be for something like coyotes, and that would be rare. Bows are used to hunt deer.

He added hunting is regulated by the province, pointing out the deer population is increasing in a lot of places around the Greater Toronto Area, and that can cause public safety concerns. For example, the number of mishaps involving deer and cars is on the increase.

Another local resident argued hunting and the discharge of firearms are two different issues. People need licences in order to hunt, and the laws governing them are stringent and simple to understand. He also argued that the courts are likely to throw out this bylaw. "It contradicts itself in just about every paragraph," he charged.

He also said York Regional police won't enforce something like this. Somerville countered the main complaints the Township receives on this issue come from police, who say there's no bylaws for them to enforce. She also said two lawyers, specialists in municipal bylaws, had looked the document over.

The man also stated there's been no indication as to why this bylaw is needed.

"There's no safety issue in King," he asserted, adding it's an anti-hunting matter. "I really don't think there's a need for this bylaw."

But the bylaw had some defenders too, with one man calling it "well-balanced."

But he was concerned about the Township's efforts to control gun-related businesses.

"If we allow massage parlours, I think we should at least allow gunsmiths in the township," he remarked.

Somerville also stressed there are no plans to try and prohibit gun ownership. "If the federal government can't do that, there's no way we can," she quipped.

One woman at the meeting was concerned about innocent people being injured by hunters, especially considering how far a bullet can travel.

There's little to worry about, Almond assured her. There's been no incident in living memory in Ontario of a bystander being injured by a hunter.

"We only shoot ourselves," one man piped up.

Almond added people are in more danger of injury in Ontario playing baseball.

Somerville had hoped the bylaw could go before council Sept. 11, but she said after last week's meeting that staff would have to review the public input that had been received. He said another meeting might be needed, and couldn't say if one could be set up before council breaks for the November elections.