Gun Control in Canada Essay -- Research Papers

Gun Control in Canada Gun Control is an important issue to Canadians. Canada has both provincial and federal legislation that restricts the sale, purchase, and use of different kinds of firearms. The United States, on the other hand, do not have federal or state bills restricting the possession or use of firearms, only local laws exist there. A firearm consists of any barreled weapon from which a shot, bullet or other missile can be fired and that is capable of causing serious bodily harm or death. Society’s concerns about protection from violent crimes involving firearms have encouraged Canadian Parliament to pass tougher gun control legislation. The Federal Government responded by passing Bill C-68 that created the Firearms Act, which came into effect in December of 1998. This is by far the strictest gun control law to date. Many Canadians objected to this legislation and wanted it repealed because they believe it is an unnecessary waste of tax dollars to further license and monitor law abiding gun owners. Firearm laws have become an extensive debate in society and also politics. Politicians from western provinces and rural areas are opposed to these stricter laws because there is a more widespread acceptance and use for guns around them. On the opposite side are politicians from urban areas where crime rates are higher, who embrace the new harsher gun control laws as one solution to violent crimes. There are many pros and cons to the recently passed Firearms Act to control guns in Canada. Severe gun control laws do not limit crime sufficiently enough and it is not worth the government money being spent on it. Government intervention in the licensing of firearms in Canada first took place in 1892. Prior to 1892 all ... ...t: http://gateway.ontla.on.ca/documents/statusoflegOUT/b133_e.htm Dickinson, G. M., Liepner, M., Talos, S., & Buckingham, D. (1996). Understanding The Law (2nd ed.). Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. History of Firearms Control in Canada up to and including the Firearms Act. (1998, December 23). [Online]. Available Internet: http://cfc.gc.ca/historical/firearms/firearms_control.html Phasing-in Plan of Firearms Act 2000-2003. (2000, March 7). [Online]. Available Internet: http://cfc.gc.ca/legal/phasing/default.html Reference re Firearms Act (Can.): Supreme Court Decision. (2000, June 15). [Online]. Available Internet: http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/cscscc/en/pub/2000/vol1/texte/2000scr1_0783.txt Too young for guns. (2000, August 8). Toronto Star, p. B4. Ward, J. (2000, July). Crime rate drops to 20-year low. Hamilton Spectator, p. D5.