Back in 2018, a random mass shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman in Toronto, Ontario, brought about another call by gun control advocates and some politicians for increased controls on guns, and in particular handguns. According to Statistics Canada reports, “firearm-related violent crime” has gone up 42 per cent since 2013. However, like in the U.S., these statistics include the fact that the most common way Canadians die from firearms is by suicide, be it by handguns or standard rifles and shotguns. Unlike in the U.S., ownership of handguns in Canada comes with several restrictions and requirements because most handguns that are not prohibited are restricted and must be registered. Being restricted, the permitted purposes for handgun ownership are for target practice or target shooting competitions and as part of a collection. Unlike in many U.S. states, the federal Criminal Code prohibits carrying a concealed weapon in Canada unless authorized for a lawful occupational purpose under the Firearms Act.
When it comes to handguns in particular, most violent crimes are being committed by gangs, often against other gang members. Obviously, given Canada’s gun laws and prohibitions, the guns being used were obtained illegally. So where do these gang members get their guns? The federal union representing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and some police chiefs have themselves opposed a complete gun ban, saying it does little to address gang violence and gun smuggling at the Canada-U.S. border, which accounts for the majority of firearm-related violence. In one example, they refer to the case of a Michigan man who in 2017 admitted to reselling 67 guns on Toronto’s black market. However, while most of illegal handguns are smuggled in, many are also purchased legally in Canada and then resold illegally, what’s known as “straw purchasing”. In addition, they rightfully believe that most guns used in violent crimes are obtained illegally, so it doesn’t make sense to ban something that’s already prohibited.
In truth, of illegal handguns that can be successfully traced by the RCMP (which can be as little as one third), about half have been found to start out as legal guns purchased at a Canadian gun store — with the other definitively coming by way of American gun smugglers. In 2016 the RCMP was estimating that up to 61 per cent of illegal guns started life as a legal Canadian firearm. Recognizing this fact, recently the federal government modestly expanded a number of existing laws, like lengthened prison sentences for people who smuggle firearms or who manipulate gun magazines beyond their legal limit. Changes to “red flag” laws grant expanded powers to courts to search and seize the possessions of gun owners.
The Canadian government recognizes that lawful gun owners are not a threat, and have thus taken a cautious approach to enacting more forceful gun laws. As it is now, gun laws already provide sufficient regulation of handgun ownership and use. The real problem is how to reduce the availability of illegal handguns which are increasingly being used for the purposes of crime. To do so will require the provision of adequate resources to national and local law enforcement to effectively go after the smugglers and illegal gun sellers. This enforcement has to take place at the borders and by local guns and gangs units that now exist in every major city. For society at large, the real fundamental issues are social and economic in nature. The actual question is why people are using guns to commit crimes in the first place? This is a Canadian problem, and we have only ourselves to resolve it.
FROLITICKS 