Gun violence has become a central issue as the Canadian general election approaches on 23 January 2006.
The Liberal Party has pledged to change the Criminal Code, enabling provinces to ban handguns.
The proposals have been introduced following a record number of gun murders in Toronto during 2005. Toronto is a 'hot spot' for gun crime; nationwide gun deaths have been steadily falling since 1991.
Guns are used in just 2.4% of all violent crimes in Canada, but handguns are the most common type of firearm used, rather than shotguns and rifles (for example). Handguns are used in 70% of of violent crimes involving guns nationwide.*
Following the Montreal massacre, when 14 women were killed, Canada's gun laws were strengthened in 1991 and 1995.
Gun death rates in Canada since the Montreal massacre.
Source: Statistics Canada 2005 (unpublished)
"Five hundred fewer people are killed with guns today than 16 years ago," says Wendy Cukier of the Canadian Coalition for Gun Control. "Gun murders are at their lowest in 30 years. Murders of women with guns are down 66 per cent. The public investment in gun control is clearly worthwhile."
The current Canadian law prohibits handguns with a barrel length 105mm or less, and those that can fire .25 or .32 calibre cartridges. However, gun owners can keep these handguns if they had registered them before 1 December 1998. It is these 'grandfathered' weapons that are most likely to affected by the proposed handgun ban.
An estimated 40% of guns used in Toronto street crime were once legally owned but have been stolen from their owners.
* 2003 figures from Statistics Canada (latest figures available) |
Handguns take centre stage in Canadian elections