Doug Ford just congratulated a homeowner for shooting an intruder
“Should have shot him a couple more times as far as I’m concerned,” the premier said today
It was announced yesterday that a Vaughan homeowner who shot an intruder will not face charges. Premier Doug Ford‘s response to this may or may not shock you.
“Congratulations for shooting this guy. Should have shot him a couple more times as far as I’m concerned,” Ford said today at an unrelated news conference, according to CBC.
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“They always want to protect the bad guys, the judges always want to protect the charter rights—how about the charter of rights of the people, to keep them safe rather than always protecting these criminals,” Ford continued. “I’m just sick and tired of it.”
Police said that the homeowner’s firearm was legally-owned and safely stored. It was retrieved during the home invasion after the intruders entered the home. The individual who was shot is in police custody while hospitalized.
Opposition leaders condemned Ford’s comments.
“It is irresponsible for the premier to be making comments encouraging violence or celebrating the loss of life,” the Green Party’s Mike Schreiner told CBC. “He should focus on investing in measures that will make our province safer and empower first responders to do their jobs to serve and protect our communities.”
Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP, said Ford’s statement was “very irresponsible nonsense.”
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Carly Lewis is a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times and the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Wired, Interview Magazine, Pitchfork, Elle, and Maclean’s, where she is a contributing editor. Her work has been recognized by the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. She reports on city life, culture—including what people do online—politics, art and crime. She received the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award for “The Murder of Ashley Wadsworth,” an investigative feature about a Canadian teenager who was killed by a man she met on social media, published by Maclean’s.
