Brampton councillors have shot down a proposal that would have seen the city offer cash for guns as part of Peel Region police’s spring gun amnesty.

Council rejected Wednesday the idea championed by Councillor Charmaine Williams, and instead approved a motion by Councillor Rowena Santos that called on the city to work with Peel police, all levels of government and community leaders to analyze and identify the “root causes” of gun violence in Brampton, and address those causes.

“Gun violence is a serious and systemic issue that stems from root causes such as gangs, poverty, social exclusion, mental health, and more,” Santos said in a statement released prior to the council meeting.

“Studies support that substantive and successful strategies to reduce gun violence requires proper research, local data, expertise, and collaboration at all levels of government.”

Peel police Chief Chris McCord told councillors he had no evidence to show that incentives for turning in unwanted guns were effective. He also noted the police service is not allowed to use its funds to pay for guns during the planned amnesty in May.

Williams wanted the city to offer $100 per gun, to a maximum of $300 per person.

When asked what the city could do to help Peel police fight gun violence, McCord said supporting the service in its lobbying for more funding would help.

“Support us when we are talking to our MPPs,” he said.

He said provincial funding for PAVIS (Peel Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy) ended in December, and that money was being used effectively to fight guns and gangs.

“That PAVIS funding was key to us, and it really, really made a difference,” he said.

McCord told councillors 10 of last year’s 26 homicide victims were shot, and all were killed with illegal guns. Guns were used in four suicides in Peel last year, and guns were fired in four domestic disputes and three incidents involving mental health issues.

Councillors praised McCord and Peel police for their work in Project Baron, revealed this week as one of the largest single seizures of guns (26) in Peel police history.

They credited “results” like the seizure with making the city safer from gun violence. All of the guns seized were restricted or prohibited, and illegally owned, McCord said.

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