Canadian border city has first homicide in 26 months
November 26, 2011
Windsor, Ontario, has its first homicide since September 2009
Police there say tough gun laws are a factor in the low number of homicides
Across the river, Detroit sees almost one homicide a day
(CNN) -- In his 60 years, Arnold Blaine has known only two people who've owned a gun: one a hunter, the other a nightclub owner.
"We don't even have gun shops," said the Windsor, Ontario, business owner.
The paucity of guns is one of three factors police in the city across the river from Detroit cite for its low homicide rate. The 25-year average for homicides is about 5.24 a year.
Thursday, Windsor reported its first homicide since late September 2009 ..... In Detroit, home to about 713,000 people last year, homicides occur nearly once a day. People in his city of about 215,000 .....
Unlike the United States, Canada has very strict federal gun-ownership laws.
"You can own a handgun here if you have a purpose for it," the police spokesman said. "The main purpose is for target and sport shooting."
..... According to the FBI, Detroit had 310 homicides in 2010, a drop from 2009. The police department's website indicates that the 2010 number was 268, but it acknowledges the 2011 tally will be much higher. Earlier this week, it stood at 309, according to the website.
..... Canadians pay higher property, income and education taxes than in the United States, Blaine said. "It's going to cost more to live in Canada." Windsor, while having low-income areas, does not have slums, he said. A social welfare system is designed "to keep people from falling in the gutter."
Canadian border city has first homicide in 26 months - CNN.com