Loaded gun found under discarded nightstand just one of dozens of illegal guns seized by police so far this year
Hamilton police say they have seized a staggering 48 crime guns so far this year, including 13 guns within the span of two days recently.
As of April 4, this represents an 85 per cent increase in the number of illegal guns seized by officers in the city, compared to the same time last year, said Det. Sgt. Greg Slack, of the gangs and weapons enforcement unit.
From those guns seized police have laid 23 charges. Five of the guns seized this year came from traffic stops.
Slack said the spike is definitely cause for concern."
The most recent spate of gun discoveries began March 31, when a driver found a bedside table at the side of the road in the area of Barton Street East and 50 Road in Stoney Creek around 8:30 a.m. When the driver got out of their car to inspect the discarded nightstand, they found a loaded handgun underneath the table, attached with a magnetic lever.
Slack said police are grateful that citizen took the time to call police. The investigation led officers to find seven additional guns and ammunition. A 59-year-old man is facing firearm charges, including careless storage. In that case the gun was legally owned, but illegally stored.
Why does a citizen of Hamilton feel so unsafe they store a loaded firearm with the assistance of magnetic lever under a nightstand?" he said.
Over the weekend police also seized two guns after being called to Candlewood Drive around 10 a.m. Saturday. That investigation involves young people between 16 and 22 years-old.
Then on Sunday, shortly after 1 p.m., police found a man slumped over the wheel of a vehicle in a live lane of traffic. Police said they ammunition was visible on the front passenger seat. Two long-arm guns were later seized as part of the investigation.
Not long after that call, around 2:30 p.m., police were called to Main Street West and Queen Street South after a loaded hand gun was found in a bar.
Slack said the rise in guns seizures speaks alarmingly to the accessibility of guns. It is now a tool of the trade for those involved in street gangs and drug trafficking, no less common than drugs and digital scales, he said.
A worrisome trend local police are also noticing is the increased capacity of the guns being seized. This includes a GSG 16, 22-caliber machine gun seized recently. The gun, with a circular drum magazine that gives it a look similar Tommy gun, has the capacity to discharge 110 rounds in seconds.
Why somebody would need that?" Slack said.
Hamilton police have also seized numerous auto sears, devices that when attached to the back of handgun turn them from a semi-automatic to an automatic. With an extended magazine - often called a 30 stick - these handguns can fire 30 bullets rapidly.
Slack said police have responded to shootings in Hamilton in recent years where more than 30 casings were found, indicating this type of weapon has been used.
It is very dangerous" to have such weapons in the hands of people not trained to be safe gun owners.
We're talking about dysfunctional and violent and neglectful groups, with no care for innocent bystanders," he said.
Some of the auto sears seized were made by 3D printers. Hamilton police have once case before the courts where they allege they uncovered a ghost gun" manufacturing operation.
Over the years, most crime guns seized here have been traced to places like Georgia, Florida and Michigan, but in the last few of years police are also increasingly seeing guns from Texas and Oklahoma.
The top four most popular gun brands seized in order are Cooey, Glock, Ruger and Smith & Wesson. Slack said a couple of years ago Hamilton police seized a bunch of guns from a different brand, Taurus, linked to a specific police project.
When police seize an illegal gun, one of the first things checked is whether it has a serial number, because many crime guns have that number filed down. Hamilton police used to have to send away for testing to restore that number but now have the ability to do that in their own forensics department. Then guns are sent for further forensic testing to see if they can be traced to crimes.
Slack said Hamilton police have had some success in the last few months tracing seized guns to a couple of shooting since 2020.
While the number of guns seized has jumped, the number of shootings so far this year is down. Of the five shootings this year, one was fatal: the March 24 murder of 53-year-old Robert Barberstock, who was shot in his main-floor unit at 29 Arthur Ave. N.
There were 44 shootings reported in Hamilton last year, and police seized 526 guns of which 299 were illegal.
Anyone with information about guns in our community can call police at 905-546-4925. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com