Bill C-391 - Countering Ten Misleading Claims

21 Pages Posted: 3 May 2010 Last revised: 12 May 2011

See all articles by Gary A. Mauser

Gary A. Mauser

Simon Fraser University (SFU) - Beedie School of Business

Date Written: May 3, 2010

Abstract

Bill C-391 is a simple and straightforward bill that proposes to dismantle the long-gun registry for non-restricted long guns, nothing more. Bill C-391 leaves in place the rest of Canada's gun control regime, including the requirement to obtain a licence, the screening of applicants, the requirement to register restricted and prohibited long guns, the need to take and pass the firearms safety course, and the rules on safe storage and transportation of firearms.

The evidence demonstrates that the repeal of the long-gun registry will not reduce public safety in Canada and may even improve it. After a brief review of the arguments, I examine and rebut the key points in the Coalition's letter sent to MPs on October 20, 2009.

The statistics provided here clearly shows that the long-gun registry has not been effective in reducing criminal violence and most especially that it has not saved lives. The multiple murders by shooting that have occurred since the registry was put in place prove that it is a waste of time and money.

Bill C-391 deserves support because the long-gun registry has failed to protect Canadians from gun violence and diverts vital police resources away from more effective efforts. In her report to Parliament, the Auditor General of Canada found that the long-gun registry cost taxpayers at least one billion dollars; later research doubled this estimate. She also noted that the Department had been unable to substantiate whether the long-gun registry had increased public safety or saved lives, which is surely the standard by which any success of the program should be measured.

Keywords: Canada, Long Gun Registration, Gun Control, Violent Crime, Homicide, Suicide, Gun Death

Suggested Citation

Mauser, Gary A., Bill C-391 - Countering Ten Misleading Claims (May 3, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1599705 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1599705

Gary A. Mauser (Contact Author)

Simon Fraser University (SFU) - Beedie School of Business ( email )

8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Colombia V5A 1S6
Canada
604 936-9141 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.sfu.ca/~mauser/

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