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Coun. Rawlson King says he’ll ask city council for support in calling on the upper governments to ban the sale of handguns and handgun ammunition.

King, the councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe ward, said that he plans to put council on notice Wednesday that he’ll bring a motion to the June 26 meeting.

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“We don’t think it’s anything controversial,” King said Sunday, the same day an 18-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Markland “Jahiant” Campbell in the ByWard Market. The homicide happened Friday night.

King said he has been talking with other councillors in recent weeks about his proposal, which is similar to motions that have appeared at other municipal councils.

Ottawa’s municipal government has no jurisdiction over the nation’s firearm laws, so a motion passed by city council calling for a handgun ban in Ottawa could be seen as a token gesture without any teeth. There’s often apprehension around the council table when a politician asks for a symbolic declaration.