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The best way to illustrate growing gun violence in Toronto is to compare this year to 2005’s infamous “Summer of the Gun”.

As of Dec. 22 of this year, shootings are up by 80% and victims are up by 100% compared to 2005.

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In 2019, there have been 471 shootings with 736 victims, compared to 262 shootings with 367 victims in all of 2005.

Shooting deaths are down by 22.6% to 41 this year compared to 53 in 2005, but homicides vary from year to year because of a number of factors.

In 2014, before street checks (a.k.a. carding) were abandoned because of concerns blacks were being unfairly targeted by police, there were 177 shootings, 242 victims and 27 deaths.

Compared to 2019, that means there has been a 166% increase in shootings, a 204% increase in the number of victims and a 52% increase in shooting deaths over the last five years.

The recent 15-week police operation, Project Community Space operation, funded by $4.5 million from the three levels of government, resulted in 463 arrests, 247 guns seized, and the laying of 1,145 charges.