Re:Miller's new gun gambit misses mark

June 3

I am writing to clarify the impact that Mayor David Miller's proposal to shut down sport shooting ranges would have on the Canadian sport system. This is an Olympic year and Canadians from coast to coast to coast will soon be cheering on Canadian athletes in their quest for excellence in Beijing . I believe it is incumbent on leaders at all levels of government to join in such support.

Recreational shooting ranges in the Toronto area are used by our high-performance athletes to train, as well as to develop their sport shooting skills. Closing the sport shooting ranges used by our Olympic athletes would do nothing to make Toronto 's streets safer. Handguns are already banned in Canada for all but a few legitimate purposes, including use by our Olympic athletes.

Shooting infrastructure is required for hosting international competitions. It is surprising that in a city that has expressed an interest in hosting the Pan Am Games, the mayor is calling for the shutdown of necessary sport infrastructure that is required for a successful Pan Am bid.

Instead of punishing athletes who use shooting ranges, our government is concentrating efforts on combatting the criminal use of firearms. We are also focused on supporting Canadian athletes, including those who rely on shooting ranges to practise and compete.

Helena Guergis, Secretary of State,

Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sport, Ottawa

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