By Mike Vanden Bosch

MP Strahl says handgun ban won’t reduce gun violence

Jun 16, 2022 | 6:28 PM

rasrCHILLIWACK – Chilliwack-Hope Conservative MP Mark Strahl isn’t convinced the proposed handgun ban tabled by the Trudeau government will achieve a reduction in gun violence.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino introduced legislation in the House of Commons on May 30 that would outlaw handgun sales under the auspices of Bill C-21, and provide very limited exemptions for individuals owning handguns.

“We made a commitment to Canadians to tackle gun violence,” Mendicino said in announcing the handgun ban as part of Bill C-21. “This legislation will help to reduce gun violence and keep Canadians safe.”

If ratified by a coalition of Liberal and NDP MPs, the new handgun restrictions would take effect this fall. It follows a similar move the Trudeau government undertook in 2020 when it announced a ban of over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms, including a buyback program that offers fair compensation to affected owners and businesses.

Strahl argues that gun control measures implemented by the federal government the past seven years have simply not worked.

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“The Trudeau Liberal record on Canadian firearms legislation is a total failure,” he said. “Despite years of more gun control, bans, buybacks, and nearly a billion dollars spent, gun violence continues to rise in Canada.”

Data from Statistics Canada show the rate of firearm-related violence in Canada was 20 per cent higher in 2015-2020 than 2009-2014. Similarly, the number of firearm-specific violent offences, including incidents where a firearm was discharged with intent, a handgun was pointed, or a firearm was used in an indictable offense, rose significantly from a rate of 4.1 per 100,000 in 2015 to 6.4 in 2020.

“Justin Trudeau’s Bill C-21 is misguided and ineffective legislation as it fails to address the root cause of gun violence in our cities: illegal guns smuggled into Canada by criminal gangs,” Strahl stated. “Bill C-21 will do nothing to take weapons away from the violent criminals causing chaos on our streets.”

A review of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) governing documents reaffirms the right of law-abiding Canadians to own and use firearms responsibly and calls for mandatory minimum sentencing for criminal use of firearms, more law enforcement officers, firearms safety training, safe storage provisions, and increased enforcement and prosecution of smuggling.

Strahl echoed much of the CPC stance on handgun ownership.

“Conservatives support common-sense firearms policies that stop gun smugglers at the border and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals,” he said. “We continue to call on the Trudeau Liberal government to ensure that Canada’s firearms legislation is based on evidence and outcomes, not on ideology, and respects the rights of lawful Canadians.”