November 3, 2009

The SPVM supports the Coalition for Gun Control and is in favour of maintaining the Canadian Firearms Registry

December 6th, 2009 will be the 20th commemorative ceremony of the École Polytechnique de Montréal shooting, when 14 women lost their lives and 28 others were injured.

These tragic events were covered by media from around the world and forced us to think about what could prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.

The Coalition for Gun Control was created in the aftermath of this tragedy by a mother of one of the murdered women, Anne-Marie Edward, who became an activist.

The Gun Control Law, enacted in 1991 and reinforced in 1995, answered the expectations of the Coalition, police officers, many citizens and organizations dedicated to safety.

Although the Gun Registry is not perfect, that implementing it involved a considerable amount of money that was seen as an exaggeration, and that it is not a 100% guarantee to end this kind of violence, all police officers see it as an essential tool to minimize the risks related to firearms.

Several organizations support maintaining it, such as the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Association des directeurs de police du Québec (ADPQ). They are pleased with the results and object toany attempt at reducing its scope.

Between 73 to 81% of Canadian police officers consult the gun registry, for a total of more than 10,000 daily consultations. They get information from it that helps them carry out their duties in greater safety, for themselves AND the public who could be caught in a shooting environment.

Investigations into crimes committed with firearms are made easier because the majority of the illegal weapons were bought legally. The Registry is a starting point for investigations. It also forces gun owners to take more precautions in their use and storage. The owner must also contemplate before giving one to an unregistered person, since they would be the primary person responsible for the gun's use.

Abundant research has established the positive effects of gun control since the Registry was put into place. From 1995 to 2005, deaths and injuries by gunfire went from 1125 to 818. By 1995 to 2007, homicides by rifles and assault weapons decreased by almost 50% (from 61 to 32).

Since 1995, murders of women by firearms have decreased by 30 %, while other women's homicides rose by 16 % overall. In 2008, aggravated thefts were lower by a third compared to 1995.

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal SPVM) can prove the relevance of the Registry. Shortly after the shooting at Dawson College in September 2007, police officers heard that threats had been uttered by another individual. The Registry made it possible to learn that this individual had several weapons and the police could confiscate them before the suspect could use them.

Gun control forms an essential part of any integrated strategy created to effectively fight against violent crimes.

No measure aimed at restricting the current range of the Registry should be adopted if we do not want to reduce its effectiveness in the fight against violent crime.

With this in mind, the SPVM must reject the modifications Bill C-391 would impose on Gun Control. The SPVM firmly supports the position defended by the Coalition for Gun Control.

Some people say that this Registry is too expensive, particularly in this difficult economic period. If it is true that the costs of Implementation exceeded those projected, the maintenance of the Registry is none the less essential - not only for safety reasons, but also for economic reasons: the investments already made would be entirely wasted if the mechanism in place did not continue.

The current costs are much less; in fact, according to a study undertaken by the RCMP, the annual costs of maintaining the registry is 3 million dollars, an amount equivalent to that spent on investigating two difficult homicide cases.

You must agree, that it is an expense that supports life, an investment which reinforces the hope that a tragedy like December 6th, 1989, will never happen again.

Yvan Delorme, directeur

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