I thought canada had no guns?

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SteveN

We have firearms here. People are allowed to have rifles for hunting trips, handguns for target practice, and for home protection. But you need to have a license for them and have the gun registered in a federal gun registry.

The problem is that people who have these guns sometimes do not store them correctly, or the gun is stolen from their home. The result is handguns get into the wrong hands.

The person who wrote the article is suggesting a total ban on handguns would make it more difficult for criminals to get the guns in the first place. If it was illegal to "own" a handgun in Canada, then the police could charge a person for simply having it in their home, car, or on their person.

This would not prevent the hunter who likes to go catch a deer or other animal during the right season. It would just make it less likely people would be carrying such a weapon in Canada.

I'm not sure banning handguns is the answer, as I feel that the punishments should fit the crimes, and currently they are much too lenient in both Canada and USA. (...Shoot a store owner? Go to jail for 15 years, be eligible for parole in 7, and be out in 5 because of good behaviour and prison overcrowding...)

But everyone has their own opinion, and I am not going to argue with someone who wants to ban guns. I have never found the need for one, and with my short fuse, it is very possible I would have used it in anger and would be one of those fellows in court, so thankful I don't own one or know anyone who does.

SEAN J

in Canada -

we have guns.
we also have liquor
we have stripper bars
we have homeless people
we have dui people

but...

we have a good medical health care system
we have clean fresh air
we have clean fresh water
we have people who actually care

C S

If Canada had no guns, how do you allege our police would keep order in the country? Do you think they politely ask burglars to stop stealing?

Of course Canada has guns, and Canadians can legally own guns. What we DON'T have is a high level of gun violence.

Caroline J

Canada has a lot of guns, mainly rifles. It is a country of hunters. In fact, I don't know anyone who doesn't own at least one gun. But we don't use them on other people, and that seems to distinguish Canadians from Americans.

I don't need to carry a gun because, odds are, the other guy isn't carrying a gun either. This knowledge changes the whole picture: you can shoot someone who breaks into your house, but there is a real good chance he is an unarmed kid. A bit excessive, don't you think?

We have a high level of respect for guns and we take the responsibility of gun ownership seriously. The Hollywood idea of people casually shooting handguns at anyone who gets in their way is revolting and I'll take rules on handguns anyday over what I see in the USA.

Jim B

For this discussion, it is important to make the distinction between rifles, shotguns, and hand guns.

Hand guns in Canada are "restricted weapons " that are hard to get a licence for. No one in Canada can legally carry a hand gun on their person. In order to own a hand gun in Canada, a person has to go thru a long and comprehensive process, that requires them to be interviewed, at home by the Police, and to have their backgound checked back to high school age , to determine if they can be trusted to own a hand gun.

THEN, they must undergo a training course, at a properly registered gun club, then pass the firearms exams, and then they can get a Firearms Accquisition Certificate, that allows them to BUY the hand gun. At no time can they carry it, in public , UNLESS it is locked in a gun safe, and the gun safe is locked in the trunk of their car, AND they are going directly to the gun club, to shoot.

Hand guns in Canada are NOT to be used for "property protection " and no one can carry one for "personal protection ". That is the law. They can ONLY be used for target shooting at an approved gun range.

Rifles and shotguns also require a complete background check, and a firearms training course, and a FAC , before you can even BUY one . They also have to be stored properly, locked in a gun safe, unloaded, and with a trigger lock installed, and the ammo cannot be stored in the same gun safe, it has to be in a seperate, secure lock up location.

Rifles and shotguns are to be transported in secure lockable gun cases, and locked in the vehicle at all times, when not in use. These "long guns " can only be carried during hunting seasons, by the owner, and they must have a valid hunting permit, for that season.

Compare that to the USA, where there are more guns than there are people, and about 13,000 people a year are shot to death.

I was armed, as a part of my job, as a Canadian Forces military Police officer, for more than 20 years. In that time I didn't fire my weapon, on duty , once. I qualified every 6 months, on the range, but I never had the need to fire at any one in my career.

I like the system that we have here in Canada. Remember that the most common weapon used here to kill some one, is still the "blunt object ", or a knife.

Jim B. Toronto.

knh959

gun laws in Canada are generally somewhat more strict and prohibitive than in the United States. However, there is no law prohibiting any law abiding citizen from owning a firearm.

MasterPython

We definately have guns in Canada. To get one you need to pass a test and a background check and give up many of your civil rights.

You can use them for self defence if you have money for a very good lawyer. Even if you do use force properly in acordance to the Criminal Code the Crown will try to nail you on many other charges they invented for the purpose. The government even issues concealed cary permits. But only to important people like judges, politicians and other high ranking governmetn officials and their friends.

bob shark

Gun laws only apply to people who respect the laws....All others are exempt.

Jagermann

Yes you can LEGALLY have guns in Canada. There are just some very restrictive gun laws compared to the United States. So-called "assault weapons" (this includes even ordinary Glock pistols that cops carry) are now banned. Canada now has an expensive and useless gun registry system that has wasted billions of taxpayers' dollars, but has not prevented a single gun crime. Canada has always had a low rate of gun violence and such gun controls were completely pointless and have had absolutely no effect on gun crime in Candada. As a matter of fact, gun violence has slightly increased in the city after the introduction of these strict gun control laws. It's just a big joke on law-abiding citizens who own guns.

kenoplayer

Canada does have guns. You just have to register them with the local police so that they can track them.

Rose

You must be American.

Yes we can own guns legally but we have to register to the National gun registry.

Great hunting in Canada by the way!

Protect ourselves? From what, Zombies and Ware Wolves? Random acts of violence are pretty rare up here. I am a woman and I can walk my fat old dog at 3 am and I won't be scared.

It saddens me that you feel that you need a gun to feel safe.

Tethys13

Funny, I always consider our gun restrictions a GOOD thing about Canada not a bad thing.

Just look at the gun-crime stats between the two countries.

Your gun you have for 'protection' is more likely to kill a family member then any one threatening your life.

There is push to ban handguns - not guns.

Ed P

we have guns just like you only very few live in igloos and T Ps come for a visit

clowny clown clown

Here ya go eh....www.canadagunlaws.com. lol Here in Ontario, we don't have clean fresh air or clean water, we do have good health care and some people don't care.Just like everywhere else.lol enjoy

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