Guns, bloodshed, and tragedy engulf the social media feeds and breaking news notifications of many Etobicoke inhabitants. Youths die, victims are traumatized, and community members are trapped in a state of perpetual suffering. Yet Louis March and Darue Ramsay are pushing for alternative solutions to gun violence.
In recent years, historically-higher risk communities such as Lawrence Heights and Rexdale saw a 40 per cent decline in armed assault during 2016. However, gun violence continues to exist within the backdrop of destitution and socioeconomic disparities. In fact, a 2019 Toronto Police report found the rate of emergency visits related to armed-related crimes was 2.6 times significantly greater for victims residing in low-income neighbourhoods compared to other sustainable regions.
But for Ramsay, the intrinsic origin of gun violence runs further deep within unstable family relationships and absent social integration. “It stems from the home and it goes into the streets. What I am noticing with these guys is they have no social skills outside of their home. They just live their life day to day.”
Similarly, Louis March uses his intervention work with victims to empower accurate policy change. As founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement, March states imposing legislative restrictions on access to firearms is simply counterproductive. “If you wanna solve this problem, you cannot talk about banning guns without talking about poverty. There is a difference between living in Rosedale and living in Rexdale” March says. “In Rosedale, things are nice, you are not worrying about violence. There are economic opportunities, there is employment, there is proper housing, and there is proper education, there are resources beyond what is needed. You go to another neighbourhood, and there is a significant difference.”
As a result, Ramsay notes creating an ecosystem of communal resources, intervention support programs and rehabilitation efforts to socialize youths is necessary for preserving community health. As a public speaker and former mentor at Think2wice, Ramsay aims to humanize victims impacted by firearm assault through trauma-informed education.
“I was born and raised in Rexdale so I come from a place where I saw a lot of gun violence. it was something that was brought up very close to me” Ramsay speaks out on his upbringing. He describes gang violence as a parasitic disease that pathologically injures all community members from families to youths. “That is a big issue because even though they may not be involved in gangs, they see some type of trauma. They become the streets themselves.”
For both men, simply dismissing the egregious socioeconomic conditions of Toronto’s many destitute regions will further aggravate fluctuating trends in gun violence. “When you have that competition for limited resources, violence becomes a legitimate option,” says March.
As Toronto’s violent crimes heighten the country’s total armed assault by 8.9 per cent, Ramsay and March point to lack of education and poor policy efforts. “When somebody with a textbook solution shows up in your community and says here is the support and services you need, did anybody ask what they need?” March says.
Consequently, Ramsay feels implementing a rigorous educational curriculum on the gun violence epidemic is integral to the healthy development of vulnerable youths. “It starts in school,” says Ramsay. “I remember I joined a gang in middle school. I was in grade six. That is a child. So there is something wrong. I think schools and homes need to be addressed.”
However, putting forward early intervention efforts and equitable support resources tailored to individual needs is difficult. March notes Canada lacks an accessible database on armed violence to accurately unveil the deeply-rooted socioeconomic issues.
“We need more data collection so we can analyze and make proper decisions,” March says. “The police cannot tell you the truth about gun violence because everything is under investigation. The politicians cannot tell you the truth about gun violence because everything is politically motivated.”
As a result, he proposes developing a transparent and credible research body will help impose an accurate policy change. “We have to do a better job at connecting the resources, support, and the policy to the needs of the people,” says March. “Forget about your textbook solution. Start listening. Start caring.”
