Should Handguns Be Should Handguns Be Banned?Banned?

By Rob Taheri and Patrick Chu

IntroductionIntroduction The efficiency and effectiveness of gun The efficiency and effectiveness of gun

regulation is a matter of controversy. The regulation is a matter of controversy. The debate over this issue has become notorious debate over this issue has become notorious for its emotion driven rationales and for its emotion driven rationales and hardened policy positions. This analysis is hardened policy positions. This analysis is based on the belief that good laws and sound based on the belief that good laws and sound policy should be based on evidence and policy should be based on evidence and subject to effectiveness reviews. Accordingly, subject to effectiveness reviews. Accordingly, it examines the cost/benefits and it examines the cost/benefits and effectiveness of gun registration as crime effectiveness of gun registration as crime control. control.

BackgroundBackground There have been three periods of gun registration There have been three periods of gun registration

in Canada. The first, the registration of handguns in Canada. The first, the registration of handguns began in 1934 and continues to this day. The began in 1934 and continues to this day. The second was the registration of all guns during second was the registration of all guns during WWII. This registration period is not well WWII. This registration period is not well documented, but it appears that the law was never documented, but it appears that the law was never seriously enforced and in any case it lapsed in seriously enforced and in any case it lapsed in 1945 when the RCMP requested it be discontinued. 1945 when the RCMP requested it be discontinued. The third period is the current registration system The third period is the current registration system brought in by Bill C-68 in 1995. This law required brought in by Bill C-68 in 1995. This law required the licensing and registration of all gun owners by the licensing and registration of all gun owners by 2001 and required the registration of all guns by 2001 and required the registration of all guns by 2003. This legislation continued the previous policy 2003. This legislation continued the previous policy of handgun registration and introduced long gun of handgun registration and introduced long gun (rifle and shotgun) registration.(rifle and shotgun) registration.

Background Continued…Background Continued… Handguns are currently classified as Handguns are currently classified as

either restricted or prohibited. either restricted or prohibited. Canadians can get a handgun license Canadians can get a handgun license by proving the weapon is part of a by proving the weapon is part of a collection, in target-shooting collection, in target-shooting competitions, or for target practice.competitions, or for target practice.

The Canadian government strategy for The Canadian government strategy for making the streets of Canada's cities making the streets of Canada's cities safer begins with banning all handguns safer begins with banning all handguns and getting tougher on crime.and getting tougher on crime.

Facts and StatisticsFacts and Statistics 7.1 million registered firearms in Canada 7.1 million registered firearms in Canada 172 gun related homicides in Canada in 2004 172 gun related homicides in Canada in 2004 112 committed with handguns 112 committed with handguns 71 gang-related homicides in Canada in 2004 71 gang-related homicides in Canada in 2004 70.4 percent of gang-related homicides 70.4 percent of gang-related homicides

committed with a handguncommitted with a handgun The highest concentration of gun violence is The highest concentration of gun violence is

amongst gangs.  50 out of the 70 gang amongst gangs.  50 out of the 70 gang murders last year used guns, and 42 of those murders last year used guns, and 42 of those murders were carried out with hand guns.murders were carried out with hand guns.

Stats Continued…Stats Continued… Guns are used in just 2.4% of all violent Guns are used in just 2.4% of all violent

crimes in Canada, but handguns are the crimes in Canada, but handguns are the most common type of firearm used. most common type of firearm used. Handguns are used in 70% of violent Handguns are used in 70% of violent crimes involving guns nationwide.crimes involving guns nationwide.

"Five hundred fewer people are killed with "Five hundred fewer people are killed with guns today than 16 years ago," says guns today than 16 years ago," says Wendy Cukier. "Gun murders are at their Wendy Cukier. "Gun murders are at their lowest in 30 years. Murders of women with lowest in 30 years. Murders of women with guns are down 66 per cent.”guns are down 66 per cent.”

U.S./Canada ComparisonU.S./Canada Comparison There are more than 30 times more There are more than 30 times more

firearms in the United States than in firearms in the United States than in Canada. Canada.

HandgunHandgun homicide rates are 15.3 homicide rates are 15.3 times higher in the United States times higher in the United States than in Canada. than in Canada.

HandgunHandgun robbery rates are 4.5 times robbery rates are 4.5 times higher in the United States than in higher in the United States than in Canada Canada (the average handgun robbery rate was 91 per (the average handgun robbery rate was 91 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 26 per 100,000 in Canada)100,000 in the U.S., compared to 26 per 100,000 in Canada)

Handguns Should Not Be BannedHandguns Should Not Be Banned Owning firearms is a Owning firearms is a

fundamental rightfundamental right Government should not be Government should not be

empowered to interfere with an empowered to interfere with an individual's right to own firearms individual's right to own firearms as long as the individual is not as long as the individual is not harming or intimidating fellow harming or intimidating fellow citizenscitizens

Guns in the hands of the law-Guns in the hands of the law-abiding populace decrease crimeabiding populace decrease crime

Citizens have a right to self-Citizens have a right to self-protectionprotection

While one's firearm may be While one's firearm may be dangerous to one's own family, dangerous to one's own family, the added risk of owning a gun is the added risk of owning a gun is negligible compared to other negligible compared to other hazards we accept at home. hazards we accept at home. (e.g., swimming pools)(e.g., swimming pools)

Citizens have a need to own guns to protect themselves Citizens have a need to own guns to protect themselves against crime because although government is tasked against crime because although government is tasked with an obligation in the whole to protect citizens with an obligation in the whole to protect citizens collectively, government is not tasked to protect any collectively, government is not tasked to protect any particular citizen unless there is a special relationship particular citizen unless there is a special relationship established with the particular individual prior to the established with the particular individual prior to the commencement of falling victim to a crimecommencement of falling victim to a crime

An armed populace decreases the overall risk of violent An armed populace decreases the overall risk of violent crime; widespread ownership by the law-abiding is a crime; widespread ownership by the law-abiding is a deterrent to criminal intentdeterrent to criminal intent

Gun control laws do not stop criminals from getting Gun control laws do not stop criminals from getting guns, because criminals are willing to break the law to guns, because criminals are willing to break the law to get them.get them.

Law-abiding citizens have a responsibility to Law-abiding citizens have a responsibility to provide their own protection because provide their own protection because governments cannot be held civilly or criminally governments cannot be held civilly or criminally responsible for failing to provide such protectionresponsible for failing to provide such protection

Carrying a firearm makes one safer, not less safe; Carrying a firearm makes one safer, not less safe; for the same reason that police forces carry for the same reason that police forces carry firearms, criminals do not expect an armed victim.firearms, criminals do not expect an armed victim.

An armed populace is a deterrent to excesses of An armed populace is a deterrent to excesses of government; the threat of violent revolution by the government; the threat of violent revolution by the people keeps government's power in checkpeople keeps government's power in check

Existing gun control laws are sufficient if only Existing gun control laws are sufficient if only government would enforce themgovernment would enforce them

Some Canadians disagreed that a Some Canadians disagreed that a sweeping ban on handguns would be sweeping ban on handguns would be very successful in combating urban very successful in combating urban violence, considering that most guns violence, considering that most guns used in shootings are obtained used in shootings are obtained illegallyillegally

Handguns Should Be Banned!Handguns Should Be Banned! The vast majority of handgun The vast majority of handgun

homicides involve youthhomicides involve youth Guns kept in your house for self Guns kept in your house for self

protection are 22 times more protection are 22 times more likely to kill someone you know likely to kill someone you know than kill in self-defence.than kill in self-defence.

Handguns provide an easy Handguns provide an easy way to kill others or yourselfway to kill others or yourself

Continued…Continued… Nowhere in the Nowhere in the

Canadian “Charter of Canadian “Charter of Rights and Freedoms” Rights and Freedoms” does it state the right does it state the right to own a handgun to own a handgun (Compared to the (Compared to the American American constitution)constitution)

Handguns are not Handguns are not used for hunting!used for hunting!

SuicideSuicide

Guns give no second chance; it is a simple, Guns give no second chance; it is a simple, quick, and efficient way to kill. "Handguns are quick, and efficient way to kill. "Handguns are unforgiving, they offer no second chance to unforgiving, they offer no second chance to consider suicide”consider suicide”

54% were suicides; 42% homicides; 3% were 54% were suicides; 42% homicides; 3% were accidents; and the other 1% were unknownaccidents; and the other 1% were unknown

Suicidal people usually consider the act for a Suicidal people usually consider the act for a long time, with handguns, they have no long time, with handguns, they have no second chance and no time to go back on their second chance and no time to go back on their actions, like they do for drowning themselves, actions, like they do for drowning themselves, attempting an overdose, or even hangingattempting an overdose, or even hanging

The Primary Function of a Handgun The Primary Function of a Handgun is to Killis to Kill

FACT:FACT: While handguns account for While handguns account for only one-third of all firearms owned only one-third of all firearms owned in the United States, they account for in the United States, they account for more than two-thirds of all firearm-more than two-thirds of all firearm-related deaths each year. related deaths each year.

FACTFACT: In 1998 handguns murdered:: In 1998 handguns murdered: 151 people in Canada where 151 people in Canada where

handguns are closely monitoredhandguns are closely monitored 11,789 people in the United States 11,789 people in the United States

where handguns are almost where handguns are almost unrestrictedunrestricted

FACT:FACT: In 1998, for every time that a In 1998, for every time that a civilian used a handgun to kill in self-civilian used a handgun to kill in self-defense, 51 people lost their lives in defense, 51 people lost their lives in handgun homicides.handgun homicides.

FACTFACT: Handguns are more likely : Handguns are more likely than rifles or shotguns to be used in than rifles or shotguns to be used in homicides in which men kill women. homicides in which men kill women. In 2002, handguns were used in 73 In 2002, handguns were used in 73 percent of cases where men used percent of cases where men used firearms to kill womenfirearms to kill women

VideosVideos http://www.gunowners.org/svtb.htm http://www.gunowners.org/svtb.htm

MORE GUNS ARE THE ANSWERMORE GUNS ARE THE ANSWER andand SO-CALLED "ASSAULT" WEAPONS SO-CALLED "ASSAULT" WEAPONS

Questions and DiscussionQuestions and Discussion Class Vote: Ban handguns or allow them? Why?Class Vote: Ban handguns or allow them? Why? Should the government money go into programs to Should the government money go into programs to

ban handguns and get them off the streets, or into ban handguns and get them off the streets, or into social programs showing youth in low class areas the social programs showing youth in low class areas the right direction? Why?right direction? Why?

Should there be background checks made to verify Should there be background checks made to verify eligibility to own a firearm? Who should make them, eligibility to own a firearm? Who should make them, and should there be a waiting period before a firearm and should there be a waiting period before a firearm can be sold?can be sold?

Are there criteria that disqualify a person from Are there criteria that disqualify a person from owning firearms? (Possible criteria include age, owning firearms? (Possible criteria include age, mental competence, firearm training, and felony mental competence, firearm training, and felony conviction)conviction)

Should some types of firearms be regulated Should some types of firearms be regulated differently than others?differently than others?

Works CitedWorks Cited http://saunderslog.com/2005/12/09/gun-violence-http://saunderslog.com/2005/12/09/gun-violence-

in-canada/ in-canada/ http://www.iansa.org/regions/namerica/handguns-http://www.iansa.org/regions/namerica/handguns-

canada.htm canada.htm http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/pol-leg/res-eval/http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/pol-leg/res-eval/

other_docs/notes/canus/default_e.asp other_docs/notes/canus/default_e.asp http://allfreeessays.com/student/Gun_Control_3.hthttp://allfreeessays.com/student/Gun_Control_3.ht

mlml www.ichv.org/Statistics.htmwww.ichv.org/Statistics.htm www.vpc.org/press/0111unin.htmlwww.vpc.org/press/0111unin.html www.endabuse.org/resources/facts/Guns.pdf - www.endabuse.org/resources/facts/Guns.pdf -

End Gun Abuse OrganizationEnd Gun Abuse Organization