Peaceful towns in Nova Scotia were devastated overnight. On April 18, a mass shooting occurred, killing 22 victims. The shooting took place over the span of 12 hours at 16 sites in the province and was perpetrated by Gabriel Wortman, who was disguised as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer. Later, it was revealed that two of the firearms that Wortman used were assault-style guns that could not be purchased or used in Canada, illegally brought from the United States (U.S.). The recent gun rampage raised awareness of the necessity of gun control and pressured the current administration to take action.
On May 1, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially announced a ban on the use of 1,500 military-style, semi-automatic rifles. He also announced a buyback program: two-year amnesty for gun owners to return guns to the manufacturer or to deactivate them. The Prime Minister’s remark seems like a positive change at a glance; however, critics pointed out that the use of the weapons was only banned through regulation. The legislation has not yet been conducted.
It is the right time for Canada to adopt gun control, mainly because gun crime rates in Canada have risen significantly since 2013. According to Statistics Canada, compared to 2013, the number of firearm-related violent crimes was 42 percent higher in 2017. Additionally, according to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1993, “Canadians, unlike Americans, do not have a constitutional right to bear arms.” Given these reasons, effective military-style gun control legislation is necessary to make a more secure society and, at the same time, guarantee rights for citizens to purchase guns for hunting.
However, the recent gun control announcement is somewhat limited. Prime Minister Trudeau’s announcement is not enough to decrease gun-related homicide rates. Significant number of firearms used for criminal purposes are obtained illegally. According to Statistics Canada, “There were 3,603 incidents in 2017 where at least one firearm was stolen property.” Indeed, the weapons used by Wortman were also smuggled into Canada illegally. A regulation for gun smuggling should be established to effectively reduce gun crime rates.
Moreover, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) News, cases of legally purchasing then illegally selling guns have risen over recent years. If the Trudeau administration still partly allows purchasing guns, they should regulate the black market to prevent potential criminals from obtaining weapons.
Therefore, Canadians need new legislation to either ban the use of a broader range of weapons ‒ including handguns ‒ or regulate the granting of gun licenses and gun trafficking. Prime Minister Trudeau should control the use of firearms that are often used in homicides. Besides, given the case of Wortman, since he acquired guns illegally, overseeing gun trafficking would be a more direct way to reduce firearm crime rates. Gun control should then be legislated, not simply announced by the Prime Minister. Parliament must make a firm legal basis to ensure no more mass shootings happen.
Historically, gun control has always been an issue in Canada. The recent rampage only pressured the Canadian government to make a faster decision. It is better late than never to legislate effective laws on gun control. However, opinions over gun control differ significantly among citizens and politicians. Therefore, after careful consideration, a law that guarantees Canadians the right to own a gun for protection, and at the same time regulates firearms in order to prevent crimes should be adopted.