PUBLICATION: Montreal Gazette
DATE: 2004.01.08
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Editorial / Op-ed
PAGE: A22
SOURCE: The Gazette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lax U.S. gun laws threaten Canadians' safety
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wendy Cukier's praise of Canada's gun-control laws (Opinion, Dec. 30) reminded us
of the progress we have made and at the same time how important it is to remain
vigilant against those who would try to turn back the clock.
While the law has faced a number of obstacles - including well orchestrated opposition
from the gun lobby and its political allies, and a constitutional challenge that
was fought all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada - there are strong indications
that it is working. The decline in crime and death from rifles and shotguns, the
focus of the 1977, 1991 and 1995 legislation, has been significant.
What remains is a concerted strategy to stem the flow of smuggled handguns from
the U.S. and politicians who are prepared to take the steps necessary to advocate
the safety of Canadians. We hear a great deal about the risks Canada represents
to the security of Americans, but very little about the tragic impact that lax U.S.
guns laws have on the security and safety of Canadians.
Jean-Francois Janvier-Houde
Montreal
:banghead:
DATE: 2004.01.08
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Editorial / Op-ed
PAGE: A22
SOURCE: The Gazette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lax U.S. gun laws threaten Canadians' safety
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wendy Cukier's praise of Canada's gun-control laws (Opinion, Dec. 30) reminded us
of the progress we have made and at the same time how important it is to remain
vigilant against those who would try to turn back the clock.
While the law has faced a number of obstacles - including well orchestrated opposition
from the gun lobby and its political allies, and a constitutional challenge that
was fought all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada - there are strong indications
that it is working. The decline in crime and death from rifles and shotguns, the
focus of the 1977, 1991 and 1995 legislation, has been significant.
What remains is a concerted strategy to stem the flow of smuggled handguns from
the U.S. and politicians who are prepared to take the steps necessary to advocate
the safety of Canadians. We hear a great deal about the risks Canada represents
to the security of Americans, but very little about the tragic impact that lax U.S.
guns laws have on the security and safety of Canadians.
Jean-Francois Janvier-Houde
Montreal
:banghead: