In Quebec, politicians launch new police unit to crack down on firearms crime

In the aftermath of a shooting that left three people dead in Rivière-des-Prairies, politicians from the city of Montreal and the province of Quebec have announced a plan to combat firearms crimes.

The new unit will be comprised of police offers from the city of Montreal, as well as the Sûreté du Québec (the provincial police force). A report in the Canadian Press says this new unit will be permanent, and an addition to ELTA, a previously-announced police unit created last winter to combat firearms crime.

So, what will the new unit do, to achieve this goal? Reports indicate the new police unit is aiming to crack down on illegal firearms trafficking. The Montreal Gazette quotes Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante as saying the firearms used are coming into Quebec from the US, and possibly "Ontario or elsewhere."

That's not rocket science-level thinking, considering the long history of organized criminal activity at the Port of Montreal. Montreal has long had a reputation as an important checkpoint on North America's illegal narcotic pipeline, and it's hard to be surprised that such criminal activity might be accompanied by illegal firearms trade and usage.

With that in mind, how will the new joint police unit combat illegal firearms trafficking? We're left with no real clues in any of the coverage, although we're told police are working with community organizations to make sure locals feel safe in the wake of the recent gun violence, and that there's no retaliation. It also sounds like politicians are keen to organize more committees, to study the causes of crime and gun violence in the community. Although this is only the start of that process, it's hard to see how more committees will deter criminals who are willing to kill.

Nevertheless, it's positive to see that, as far as we can tell, law-abiding firearms owners were not singled out for scolding by politicians or law enforcement through this episode, as they are so frequently in other Canadian cities. Bill C-21 was singled out, though.

When the gun-control bill was announced in winter of 2021, it was greeted with complaints from both firearms enthusiasts and the gun control lobby, due to the confusion it created. In the aftermath of the recent Montreal shooting, the Canadian Press says "Plante also encouraged Ottawa to do more, saying that Bill C-21, which targets smuggling and trafficking in firearms among other things, does not meet the city’s expectations in tackling guns." Looks like Montreal's mayor is on the side of the municipalities who want the federal government to give them even more power, then. With that in mind, it will be interesting to keep an eye on what steps the new police unit takes, especially if it ends up targeting law-abiding firearms owners, as other Canadian municipalities have decided to do. No doubt that's what's coming.