{"id":209639,"date":"2019-04-12T06:34:48","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T10:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=209639"},"modified":"2019-04-12T06:34:48","modified_gmt":"2019-04-12T10:34:48","slug":"canadians-divided-on-banning-handguns-assault-style-firearms-consultation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2019\/04\/12\/canadians-divided-on-banning-handguns-assault-style-firearms-consultation\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadians divided on banning handguns, assault style firearms: consultation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There was consensus on the need to address the underlying social conditions that can lead to gun violence, such as poverty, lack of education and employment opportunities, poor mental-health supports and social isolation, the report adds. (Pixabay photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OTTAWA — Canadians have wildly diverging views on banning handguns and assault-style firearms, says a newly released summary of federal consultations.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Crime Reduction Minister Bill Blair to study the possibility of such a ban shortly after a shooting spree in Toronto last July.<\/p>\n

The federal report released Thursday says opinions expressed during in-person discussions and through written submissions both opposed and supported outlawing handguns and assault-style firearms. In contrast, most people who responded to a questionnaire were against a ban.<\/p>\n

Many participants felt strongly that a ban would target law-abiding owners, rather than illicit firearms, and would not reduce gang violence, the report says. As a result, many called for beefing up police and border services, as well as tougher penalties for firearms-trafficking and gun-related crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cA wide range of approaches and ideas were discussed, which suggests that a multifaceted approach is needed to address this issue rather than implementing a ban in isolation,\u201d the report says.<\/p>\n

There was consensus on the need to address the underlying social conditions that can lead to gun violence, such as poverty, lack of education and employment opportunities, poor mental-health supports and social isolation, the report adds.<\/p>\n

Participants also supported better collection and sharing of data on gun crime, especially on sources of illicit firearms and the types of offences being committed.<\/p>\n

In addition, many people active in the firearms community said they wanted to work with the federal government to come up with solutions.<\/p>\n

New Zealand recently banned military-style semi-automatic weapons after 50 Muslims were brutally gunned down in Christchurch.<\/p>\n

Blair said Thursday there are \u201copportunities to take measures that will make Canada safer,\u201d though he declined to provide details or speculate on timing.<\/p>\n

Blair said he has been looking at the data, the experience in other jurisdictions, Canada’s regulatory environment and how firearms get into the wrong hands. \u201cAnd as a result of that work, I believe that there are some things that we can do to create a safe environment, reduce gun violence in our communities and make it far more difficult for people who would commit crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants at a series of eight in-person roundtables in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and Moncton, N.B., last October \u201cwere divided in their views on a ban,\u201d the summary says.<\/p>\n

There was also a range of opinion among 36 written submissions. Opposition to a ban came from shooting clubs, retailers, academics, wildlife associations, a territorial government, an association representing rural municipalities and a group of LGBTQ firearms owners.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are reacting to a crime wave, no question, but not a firearms problem,\u201d said one submission.<\/p>\n

Support for a ban came from some health associations, victims’ organizations, women-focused groups, a provincial ministry and an organization that deals with municipal affairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs these firearms have no legitimate use in hunting, current owners may only legally use them for target shooting or collecting,\u201d said one such submission. \u201cThis is not a compelling enough reason to justify the risk they pose to public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, about four in every five of the almost 135,000 responses to an online questionnaire objected to doing more to limit access to handguns or assault-style weapons.<\/p>\n

A federal bill introduced in March last year, and currently before the Senate, has proposed expanding the scope of background checks on those who want to acquire guns, strengthening record-keeping requirements for sales and requiring purchasers to present valid firearms licences.<\/p>\n

But the government has long been eyeing additional measures.<\/p>\n

The government thinking evolved further after a July 2018 shooting in Toronto that killed two people, injured 13, led to the gunman’s death and left a neighbourhood deeply shaken.<\/p>\n

Two days later, Toronto city council passed a motion calling on the federal government to outlaw the sale of handguns in the city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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