The rise in firearm violence worries the GRC in the Yukon

The main superintendent of the Royal Canada Gendarmerie (RCMP) in Yukon, Lindsay Ellis, sounds alarm on the increase in the frequency of incidents involving firearms.

In recent weeks, numerous interventions involving this type of weapon, or their replicas, have taken place in Whitehorse. According to the GRCthe 1^is May, two women were arrested in possession of a replica after threatening the latter the people in the building Blood Tie Four Direction.

On the night of Sunday, April 27, the GRC reported that a teenager was transported to hospital after being injured by the streets Selkirk.

A little earlier, on April 14, six men were arrested for kidnapping and sequestration. During its search, the GRC reports to have seized a semi-automatic assault rifle, a handgun and drugs.

She adds that several young people were arrested this winter in possession of similar weapons.

Concern

According to the main superintendent Lindsay Ellis, The territory has changed over the past 10 to 15 years, But I think we are catching up with the rest of the country.

In recent months, including last week or the last two, the reports of the survey of the GRCand the information we have received, concerning exposed firearms, brandished or discovered during surveysworries the main superintendent Lindsay Ellis.

There is no good reason at the Yukon, for a person to have a firearm or a replica of firearm.

We find it during road checksshe says, adding that it is worrying for the safety of field officers and that of the public. The main concern is the fear that the public can feel in the territory, she believes.

She says that Certain weapons are legally bought from renowned sellers, before ending up in the hands of people to whom they were not intended.

Others are smuggled by other countries, and others are purchased in spare parts on the Internet and on hidden web (dark Web in English) in spare parts.

Some of these weapons are real, and others are simple replicas printed. The superintendent cites the case of a case to Dawson involving a weapon ghostthat is to say a 3D printed weapon without serial number.

The work of the RCMP

She says that the response of the GRC Faced with these situations is A modern and professional application of the maintenance of order To neutralize, safely, this threat to public security.

Incidents that took place in public during the day on rue Main […] are very worrying with a high risk for public security. So I can understand why the Yukonnais are worried by this increaseshe said adding that the police have the ability to respond.

Everything is a question of prevention and awareness, but also of conflict resolution she concludes, encouraging the Yukonnais in contact the RCMB when they see something suspicious.

With information from Elyn Jones