Gun Control
Firearms in Canada are a leading cause of death. While recent focus has been on gang violence in large cities, gun violence is not just an urban issue. In fact, rates of crime and death per capita tend to be higher in smaller cities.
Go further and read about the feasibility of increased restrictions on the civilian possession of military assault weapons.
Guns do not cause homicides or suicides but they increase the likelihood that an assault will become a murder and that a suicide attempt will be fatal. Violence takes many forms and the type of firearms used vary, handguns are used most often in gang related violence, military assault weapons are often used in mass shootings, hunting rifles and shotguns are most often used in domestic homicides, suicides and killing of police officers.
All firearms need to be regulated. The regulation of firearms is important to reduce the risk that dangerous people will get access to guns. The Coalition for Gun Control has been advocating and pushing for a national ban on assault weapons since 1989. Check it out here. After stronger laws were introduced 1991 and 1995, the Conservative government relaxed the legislation and introduced gaping loopholes.
Finally: A major victory – new legislation bans the import, sale and transfer of handguns.
The basics
We need strong implementation of the legislation banning the import, sale and transfer of handguns.
All Canadians have the right to be safe regardless of where they live.
The Coalition’s Recommendations
With support from women’s groups, health care organizations, victims and others, we were able to push the government to ban assault weapons. And finally, a major victory, new legislation bans the import, sale and transfer of handguns.