Toronto is moving ahead with its controversial new gun rules, but with a key compromise to appease two gun clubs.

Many gun advocates, including Avianna Chao, a Canadian Olympic pistol shooter, told Mayor David Miller on Tuesday during a city council meeting that shutting down gun clubs and shooting ranges will not decrease street violence. Eliminating such groups, they say, will do nothing to get rid of guns on city streets.

Bernard Becker, who belongs to the CNRA handgun club located inside Union Station, told council that under federal law he must keep his guns at home, not at the club.

"So even if you close every gun club in Toronto, Mr. Mayor, all these guns will still be in Toronto, in homes. All the illegal gun activity you are trying to target will not be affected one little bit by this action."

But the frustration with gun lobby was obvious when Elaine Lumley spoke.

Her teenage son was shot to death with a handgun while visiting Montreal more than two years ago and she challenged gun owners to do something to rid the streets of handguns.

"I ask you to come up with a solution, handgun owners. Get the illegal handguns off the street, or maybe come up with a new non-violent hobby. My son had a right to live," she said.

The city will still remove two gun clubs from city property: one at Union Station and one at an east-end community centre. But they will be allowed to set up on private property because the city doesn't have the power to ban private gun clubs.

Miller, reluctantly, agreed to the compromise.

"My preference would be to have no gun clubs in the city. But we also have to act responsibly and fairly to people," the mayor said.

The proposals will come to a final vote later this month.