A Michigan man who lived an otherwise “exemplary” life says he didn’t appreciate the “possible serious consequences” of smuggling 67 firearms into Canada until after he was caught and watched last year’s spike in gun violence in the Toronto area.“Over the last year, I’ve seen ... the impact of bringing firearms into Canada,” Randy Jackson, 35, told a judge Monday after pleading guilty to smuggling handguns across the border using his NEXUS pass.“There was a shooting somewhere in the GTA in the news almost every day. It’s a painful thing, it’s a painful feeling to see so many stories break and wonder if I had any fault in it.”Jackson only pleaded guilty to trafficking four weapons, including three handguns Canadian border officials found stashed in his underwear as he attempted to cross from Port Huron, Mich., into Canada on Oct. 12, 2017. But as part of the plea agreement, he also admitted buying 67 handguns at various Michigan firearms dealers in 2017, that were not for his own use, and smuggling them into Canada to be sold on the black market.The authorities looked into Jackson’s cross-border, and gun-purchasing history after Toronto police seized a loaded Glock 19 9 mm handgun. They determined he was the source, that he had a girlfriend and children in London, Ont., and was a regular traveller to Canada using a NEXUS pass.According to the federal government website, the NEXUS program allows low-risk, pre-approved travellers to use designated border crossings without being subject to regular questioning by customs and immigration officers.Defence lawyer Christian Angelini described his American client as a devoted dad, who coaches basketball, and has no criminal record or arrests in his past. Born in Lansing, Mich., Jackson enlisted in the Michigan National Guard at 19 and served two tours of duties in Kuwait with the U.S. armed forces.At the time of his arrest, he was working ...
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