The Canadian Long-Gun Registry: A Preliminary Evaluation

Journal on Firearms and Public Policy, Forthcoming

19 Pages Posted: 11 Mar 2015

See all articles by Gary A. Mauser

Gary A. Mauser

Simon Fraser University (SFU) - Beedie School of Business

Date Written: March 9, 2015

Abstract

In 2012, eleven years after its introduction, Canada scrapped its controversial long-gun registry that had required the registration of long guns (shotguns and rifles). This paper briefly reviews the politics behind the demise of the registry and explores the linkage between the long-gun registry and murder rates. No solid evidence was found linking Canadian gun laws to the slow continual decline in Canadian homicide rates. An analysis of a Special Request to Statistics Canada found that less than 3% of long guns involved in homicide were registered to the accused. Neither the beginning nor the end of the long-gun registry had a measurable effect on the spousal homicide rate. Registered firearms were involved in only 4.7% of firearm homicides and 1% of all homicides. The registry misleads police because it cannot alert them to the existence of unregistered guns. Only half of Canada’s gunstock has been registered. Available data suggest that Canadian homicide rates are likely to continue declining after the demise of the long-gun registry.

Suggested Citation

Mauser, Gary A., The Canadian Long-Gun Registry: A Preliminary Evaluation (March 9, 2015). Journal on Firearms and Public Policy, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2575866 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2575866

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/

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
115
Abstract Views
2,033
Rank
433,300
PlumX Metrics