Vancouver council to decide whether to ban sale of gun-shaped lighters in the city
On Wednesday, council will vote on the proposal from the city's chief licence inspector after the matter was raised in a motion from councillor Mike Klassen.
A ban would come with a $1,000 fine for non compliance.
Staff are also asking that a letter be sent to the provincial government calling for legislative amendments to make the ban provincewide.
'Staff recommend amending the licence bylaw to prohibit the retail sale of gun-shaped lighters as a measure to increase public safety and limit an increase in the number of devices in circulation,' the report to council states.
'Staff propose an amendment to the Ticket Offences bylaw to make the sale of GSLs a ticketable offence with a fine of $1,000. Staff also propose that the mayor, on behalf of council, write a letter to the provincial government requesting legislative amendments to prohibit the sale, distribution, and possession of GSLs in British Columbia, as well as consider legislative changes to empower law enforcement to seize these devices proactively and prevent their continued proliferation in communities across the province.'
A gun-shaped lighter is defined as a hand-held device that produces a flame, resembles a firearm, and includes an igniter or trigger, barrel and stock. This includes torch style lighters that look like a firearm due to the shape of the barrel and/or handle.
There were 162 police calls about the lighters last year, more than half of which were classified as 'priority weapons calls' — meaning they led to a response involving several officers armed with Tasers, less-lethal beanbag shotguns and Arwen riot guns.
With file from Joe Ruttle
dcarrigg@postmedia.com
Related
Gun-shaped lighters: Councillor seeks ban as they proliferate in Vancouver
Boy, 15, stabbed to death near Vancouver's Robson Square: VPD
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
14 minutes ago
- Associated Press
2 killed, 2 wounded in Northern Ireland shooting
LONDON (AP) — A shooting in Northern Ireland Police left two people dead and two others wounded, police said Wednesday. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said that there was no ongoing risk to the public from the shooting in Maguiresbridge, southwest of Belfast. There was no immediate word on a motive.
Washington Post
14 minutes ago
- Washington Post
2 killed, 2 wounded in Northern Ireland shooting
LONDON — A shooting in Northern Ireland Police left two people dead and two others wounded, police said Wednesday. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said that there was no ongoing risk to the public from the shooting in Maguiresbridge, southwest of Belfast. There was no immediate word on a motive.
Axios
43 minutes ago
- Axios
Philly to consider reviving an old police district before the World Cup
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Philadelphia is weighing whether to bring back a disbanded police district that once patrolled Fairmount Park. Why it matters: A Memorial Day mass shooting has renewed concerns about public safety in the city's sprawling park, which will serve as the site of next year's FIFA Fan Fest. Thousands of spectators are expected to swarm Lemon Hill for watch parties and entertainment during the tournament's five weeks. Driving the news: City Council is holding a hearing in September to discuss reviving Philadelphia's 92nd Police District. It's the first step in what could become a contentious debate about whether there's enough funding and manpower for an additional outpost amid a police staffing shortage. Zoom in: Councilperson Curtis Jones Jr., who introduced the proposal, tells Axios that residents have recently complained about an increase in crime and quality of life issues in the park, ranging from feral dogs to reports of joggers being attacked on trails. He hopes a specialized unit of 50 officers — some on bikes, others on horseback — can be in place in time for next year's busy slate of events. The unit would be able to easily reach some of the park's most remote stretches, including areas that Jones says have become hotspots for illegal dumping and intimate encounters. Flashback: The park once had its own police force, the Fairmount Park Guards, which was formed in 1868 and kept watch over visitors and the area's historic mansions. About a century later, it merged with Philly police, forming the 92nd Police District. The unit was disbanded in 2008 because of budget cuts. Since then, several surrounding police districts have divvied up responsibility for responding to calls in the area, Jones says. By the numbers: It could cost more than $3 million a year to staff the park — a figure based on starting salaries of graduating police recruits. Plus, overhead for supervising brass. What they're saying: Critics will say, 'This is a lot for the park. Shall we be guarding the squirrels, the trees, the bees?'" Jones tells Axios. "No, we're guarding the people." Plus, some costs could be offset by transferring police officers currently working in less-busy districts, Jones says. Meg Kane, host city executive, tells Axios security planning is underway for next year's World Cup, but having "any additional security measures" would be a "positive development."
