Canada instituted mandatory registration of handguns in 1934. In the entire history of the Canadian handgun registration, not one case has been found where the handgun registry solved or prevented a crime of violence.
In 1993, Canada outlawed about half of the handguns on the handgun registry.
The police in Toronto do not believe a ban on handguns will prevent any murders. From cbc.ca:
"There's no way in my world or any world I know that this would have an impact on somebody who's going to go out and buy an illegal gun and use it to kill another person or shoot another person."
Most police in the United States agree with the Toronto Police Association president.- Mike McCormack, Toronto Police Association president
"It really has no impact on the psyche of a gunman."
The intention is noble, he added, but it's "A notional gesture at best."
Instead, McCormack would rather see more resources poured into policing and social services.
He said his years of experience in policing have taught him something about gun crime — individuals who steal, sell or use guns illegally are already facing mountains of jail time, so they're unfazed by one more law that condemns their actions.
Perhaps Canada is slowly learning by experience.
©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
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