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Outline

Gun Control Redux

2010, Canadian Journal of Public Health

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404371

Abstract

Twenty years ago, 14 young women were killed at the École Polytechnique de Montréal by a lone gunman. Canadians were shocked and outraged by this act of incomprehensible brutality. Under the leadership of some of the family members of the victims, gun control advocates, public health professionals, health care providers and ordinary citizens mobilized to promote stronger control of firearms. The federal Firearms Act, which created a national registration system for rifles and shotguns, resulted directly from these efforts. Although the epidemic of gun violence is not as severe in Canada as it is in the United States, pro-gun lobbies are active here as well and they have been trying for years to block or reverse progressive legislation and policies aimed at reducing gun-related violence. Now the Conservative Government has allowed a private member bill to move through the House of Commons which would repeal the gun registry. The bill, which has passed second reading, would allow anonymous purchasing of rifles and would eliminate almost 7,000,000 firearm records from the registry. The repeal of gun registration would be a major mistake and a blow to public health and to the safety of Canadians. The number of gunshot deaths in Canada has declined by close to 50% over the past two decades and suicide with firearms has decreased by over 60% among 15-35 year-olds. Murders of women by firearm as well as firearm-related accidents have also declined sharply. While there could be several explanations for these declines, it seems a pretty sure bet that the registration process and its associated rejection or revocation of licenses has played an important role. The effort to dismantle this system is not only poor policy, it is foolish and reflects self-serving politics and questionable legislative ethics. It seems that every once in a while, public health has to fight another rearguard battle from conservative elements of society trying to move us back in time. The current debate reinforces the need for vigilant public health advocacy, strong surveillance programs, long-term impact evaluation of policy and programs, and a continued focus on core values and ethical principles of interventions to ensure that Canadian population health is protected and promoted. Public health practitioners must fight to defeat this bill. Canada deserves strong and consistent policies to enhance rather than decrease gun control in order to prevent tragedies such as the killings at École Polytechnique.