Rising gunfire in Ottawa must end, trauma director urges

Gun violence is on the rise in Ottawa andit's time for substantial legislative change to stop it, says theOttawa Hospital's director of medical trauma.

To help push for that change, Dr. Jacinthe Lampronhasjoined a new organization called Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns, made up of family physicians, trauma surgeons like her, psychiatrists and nurses.

"Almost every time I'm on call at the trauma centre I get my hands soaked in blood from victims We have to do extreme measures of resuscitation, blood transfusion, and bring them to the operating room to do our best to save them,"Lamprontold CBC Radio'sOttawa MorningTuesday.

"This is our job. But we wouldprefer [preventing] all those injuries."

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Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns officially launched Monday and is askingfor stricter gun controlsto stop what it callsa public health crisis.

The group wants a ban on handguns and assault weapons, as well as the passage of Bill C-71firearms legislation that's currently beforethe Senate.

The bill proposes an overhaul of background checks, would introducenew record-keeping requirements for those selling guns, and placemore restrictions on the transportation of firearms.

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In Ottawa, six of the past eight years have brought new records for shootings.

Most recently, in 2018, there were a record-high 78 shootings.

"We see the consequences," Lampron said.

"I have sometimes had to tell a family that the victim is deceased or that they will never walk anymore or they may need a permanent kidney replacementWe're concerned this will continue to escalate."