Anti-gun advocate's son facing weapons charges
Updated: Sun Apr. 02 2006 7:44:51 PM
CTV.ca News Staff
A Toronto mother who helped found a group dedicated to fighting gun violence watched in shock as police raided her home, searching for guns.
Julia Farquharson, founder of United Mothers Against Violence Everywhere, was angry as police started to comb through her house on Saturday.
"I have nothing to hide," Farquharson said to police.
However, she was not the focus of the investigation. Police were there because of her son Kadafi Farquharson, 23. He was arrested on weapons charges.
The mother and anti-gun violence advocate said someone else must have put the weapons in her house. She berated officers as they left her home.
Police officers offered to show Farquharson the results of their search. Items allegedly found by investigators included a rifle magazine, a disassembled handgun and a quantity of ammunition.
After seeing what police had allegedly collected, Farquharson said she does not believe it.
"No, my son wouldn't carry a gun, no," Farquharson said.
A gun-toting, would-be robber murdered another of Farquharson's sons five years ago.
Segun Farquharson, 24, was shot and killed in May 2001 during an attempted robbery. His death prompted the mother to become an anti-gun crusader.
That's why Julia feels sure her son Kadafi is not involved with weapons.
"A gun is what killed his brother. He would not carry a gun … He's not looking for revenge, so why would he walk with a gun?" Farquharson said.
She said her fight to end gun violence will continue and she will stand by her arrested son.
