The Illegal Firearms Task Force (IFTF), which was convened in 2016 to examine   
   current legislation and enforcement policies, has provided the provincial   
   government with 37 recommendations to deal with issues related to policing,   
   legislative and policy    
   changes, education and prevention.   
   _____________________________________   
      
   The Canadian Press - November 27, 2017   
      
   Bulk of illegal guns seized in B.C. from domestic sources: study   
      
      
   British Columbia is creating a police squad to pursue gun trafficking after a   
   task force report found more than half of the illegal firearms seized in the   
   province over three years originated from inside Canada.   
      
   Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said Monday police data indicates almost   
   60 per cent of the guns seized in B.C. were purchased, traded or stolen in   
   Canada.   
      
   He said most people might think illegal weapons come from the United States or   
   other countries, but it is common for weapons purchased legally in the country   
   to end up in the hands of criminal gangs.   
      
   "Domestically sourced illegal firearms in Canada are now a significant factor   
   in illegal firearms trade," said Farnworth at a news conference. "Individuals   
   with no criminal record and with a firearms licence could legally acquire   
   firearms and divert them    
   to the criminal market."   
      
   Farnworth said the criminal use of firearms was linked to 2,000 incidents in   
   B.C. in 2015 that ranged from break and enters to homicides. Police seized   
   3,000 illegal weapons during investigations of those incidents, he said.   
      
   "All British Columbians deserve to live in safe communities free of violence   
   and gang activities," the minister said. "Unfortunately, B.C. continues to   
   experience highly dangerous incidents of firearms violence that have resulted   
   in numerous deaths and    
   injuries and place innocent members of the public at risk."   
      
   The 138-page task force report cites BC Coroners Service statistics which   
   lists 132 firearms deaths in the province in 2015, the highest total since   
   2008, when 134 died in firearms incidents.   
      
   The report makes 37 recommendations that focus on four areas: strategy, legal,   
   education and data.   
      
   The report calls on Farnworth, B.C.'s Solicitor General, to support   
   legislation that cracks down on illegal weapons in vehicles and prohibits the   
   sale of imitation weapons to residents under 18 years.   
      
   "Approximately one in three victims in a gang-related homicide or attempted   
   homicide is targeted when inside a vehicle or near a motor vehicle," Farnworth   
   said.   
      
   He said vehicles involved in gang violence are moving hazards that threaten   
   innocent people.   
      
   Gang expert and one of B.C.'s top RCMP officers said the creation of the   
   multi-force illegal firearms tracking team will work to prevent and break up   
   criminal efforts to traffic in illegal weapons. Assistant commissioner Jim   
   Gresham said the team expects    
   to work on investigations pursuing national and international weapons   
   traffickers.   
      
   "We will be better positioned to address the impacts of guns and gun-related   
   violence and leverage information and intelligence into investigations," he   
   said.   
      
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