Toronto mayor livid over rash of shootings

• Tweet

TORONTO, July 19 (UPI) -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he's infuriated over three successive nights of gun-related homicides and wants federal gun and immigration laws changed.

The conservative mayor told the CP24 cable television news outlet and CMFJ-AM, Toronto, he's contacted the Liberal premier of Ontario and the Conservative prime minister in Ottawa to address the problem in Canada's biggest city.

Monday, at least two men opened fire at a large barbecue block party in the city's east end, killing two people and injuring more than 20 others, including an infant.

An unrelated shooting death was reported Tuesday night elsewhere in the city and another Wednesday night, police said.

Ford said he wants more money from the province for anti-gang and weapons officers and a clamp-down on federal gun laws, prison sentences and immigration enforcement.

"We have to send a message," Ford said. "Three years for possession of a handgun? That's nonsense. You should do some serious hard time, and not come back here. Once you come out, out of jail, get out of the city. Go somewhere else."