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“They see this as a debate that makes downtown, I hate to say it, white people feel better that they’ve done something, when they’re suffering from this gun violence day after day,” Mr. Colle said.

His comments about downtown residents prompted Councillor Gord Perks to tell his colleague to f— off. Mr. Perks later withdrew the remark.

“So, yes we have a problem with guns, and it’s a huge one,” said Mr. Colle. “But it’s not going to be solved by us debating whether this is at the CNE or the convention centre.”

Still, Mr. Perks admonished council for abandoning its principles.

“We took a position as a city council that the promotion of guns, the sale of guns and the display of guns in our city reinforces and builds the culture of guns in our city,” he said.

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who earlier in the day won support for a pro-gun registry motion, was less successful in a bid to forbid the sportsmen’s show from displaying firearms on site.

She also failed to convince council that organizers should feature booths of organizations working to combat violence against women.

Councillor Doug Ford called the tenor of the debate nonsense.

“It is totally irresponsible for an elected official to imply that when they get in a fight, the man is going to shoot the woman with a gun, because he’s a gun owner,” said Councillor Ford.

“I got an idea, why don’t we lock up all the knives in the city. Everyone go home and register all your knives.”

Council also voted to hold a gun amnesty, and include booths at the show for animal protection and welfare organizations to educate about the impact of hunting and fishing.

The next Toronto Sportsmen’s Show is February 2013.

National Post

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