Gun Control Canada Under Fire Essay

Gun Control: Canada Under Fire Essay, Research Paper

In the Interests of the Public:New Gun Control Laws in CanadaAn increase in gun control is not in the best interests of society, it just provides a false sense of security. Through out history governments have used guns as a scapegoat for their problems with violent crime. Guns are not the problem when it comes to society’s problems with violence, people are. Guns do not commit the crimes people do. You must control the criminals in order to control crime. The first restrictions on firearms in Canada came in 1877 when a six month sentence was implemented for anyone possessing a handgun without fear of life or property. Then in 1892 a nation wide permit system was established for the ownership of small arms, such as handguns. Later in 1934 full registration of all handguns was established. These severe restrictions on handguns were the difference between the American and Canadian old west. These handgun restrictions prevented people from carrying handguns in public unlike the Americans western frontier, where people felt they must own handguns for protection. This lack of handguns shaped Canada into a society which is less reliant on guns in comparison to the Americans. Later in 1957 a registration system was established for all restricted weapons. Then in 1961, 3 different classifications for firearms were introduced, prohibited, restricted and long arms. The Canadian gun control policy is one of the toughest in the world.There are three major themes of the new gun law, to strengthen border controls, deal with the criminal use of firearm and to enhance controls on the legal use of firearms. In order to strengthen Canadian border controls, the government is implementing many new laws. Some of the highlights are listed below. 1. All commercial shipments of firearms must have a permit and will be recorded entering and leaving Matos 2 Canada. 2. All individual firearms must be registered entering and leaving Canada. 3. The shipment of prohibited weapons and ammunitions will be prohibited. 4. More offenses and stiffer penalties to deal with the smuggling and trafficking of weapons. 5. Fees levied to recover the cost of inspections and registration of firearms. The next theme of the new gun control laws, dealing with the criminal use of firearms, the new laws to do this are outlined below. 1. Minimum 4 year sentence for 10 key offenses if committed with a firearm, attempted murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, robbery, kidnapping, hostage-taking, sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated sexual assault, extortion, discharge firearm with intention to cause harm. 2. Lifetime prohibition from possessing a restricted weapon upon conviction for any of these 10 offenses. 3. Minimum 1 year sentence for any of the following sentences, Possession of a loaded handgun or unloaded with ammunition in reach, possession of a stolen or smuggled firearm, trafficking/possession of an unregistered firearm for the purpose of trafficking. 4. Other new offenses such as failing to report a loss or theft of a firearm. And the new gun laws final purpose, controls on legal ownership of firearms will be delt with the following laws. 1. The registration of all firearms (Supports all three themes) 2. Increased ammunition controls such as raising the purchasing age to 18 from 16, must show identification upon purchasing, can only purchase firearms for owned caliber of guns. 3. Increased controls on handguns which include banning the manufacture of .25 caliber and .32 caliber handguns and all handguns with barrels under 4 inches. Also the prohibition of many assault pistols and increase the controls on handgun shooting clubs. 4. A ban on many military style weapons. The registration of firearms is the most drastic new law being imposed. This registration system will be Matos 3 composed of many parts listed below. 1. Gun owners will have 7 years to register, which will help gun owners with the transition 2. Machine readable plastic cards will be issued to gun owners. 3. Firearm Identification Numbers will be issued for every firearm manufactured or imported in Canada. 4. 5 different levels for the ownership of firearms, a minors permit with no acquisition rights, long firearm (rifle, shotgun) with no acquisition rights, long firearms with acquisition rights, restricted weapons with no acquisition rights, and restricted weapons with acquisition rights. 5. Every gun will be issued a registration card. The government has addressed the gun control issue in three major parts, tighter border controls, dealing with the criminal use of firearms and stiffer controls on legal owners of firearms. There are many different instances where gun control has failed or it could not have avoided a crime from happening. For instance on September 14, 1994, 2 armed men robbed Gagnon sports in Oshawa. The purpose for this robbery was to steal firearms. In the process the owner, Mr. Pardy was killed and 3 others wounded. The robbers made off with a number of guns. This crime illustrates a flaw in Canadian gun laws, if a criminal wants a gun there are many different ways of getting one such as robbery. Since the issue of gun control affects everyone in society, there are many different views on it but they are in many ways similar. The most important view to be considered is the general view of society. Society feels that the government must stop the smuggling of illegal and