NEWS RELEASE

January 25, 2005                                                     For Immediate Release

WEAPONS USED IN CRIME MAY SURPRISE YOU

“What did the gun registry do to protect the victims of all these violent crimes?”

Victoria – Today, Saskatchewan MP Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative Firearms Critic, released new Statistics Canada tables that show the reality of weapons crime in Canada – a view seldom reported in the media and completely ignored by the government and its soon-to-be two-billion dollar gun registry.  “This may shock a few Liberals, but in 2003: 71% of murders were committed with something other than a gun; 86% of robberies reported by police were committed with something other than a firearm; and 97% of the assaults with a weapon reported by police were committed using something other than a gun,” reported Breitkreuz. “What did the firearms program do to protect the victims of all these violent crimes?  Nothing!”

For the 548 Murders in 2003, Statistics Canada reports show:

• 29% of the 548 murders were committed with a firearm (6% of the guns used were registered, 26% were unregistered and the government didn’t know the registration status of the other 68%).  Makes a sane person ask: “What good is the gun registry?”
• 68% of the 161 firearms homicides were committed with handguns (that the government has been registering since 1934).
• Between 1997 and 2003, the registration status was known for 46% of firearm-related homicides.  Of these, 86% were not registered and 80% of the accused persons did not possess a valid FAC or Firearms Licence.  Why?  Because 69% of murderers were already known criminals including five that had previously been convicted for homicide.  Why were these murderers back on the street

For 22,906 Robberies in 2003, Statistics Canada tables show:

• 95% of the injuries suffered by victims of police-reported robberies were injured with something other than a firearm.
• 88% of firearm robberies reported by police were committed with guns that were either already banned or handguns that should have been registered.
• 85% of injuries suffered by victims of police-reported robberies committed with firearms were committed with guns that were either already banned or handguns that the government has been trying to register for the last 70 years

For 26,155 Assaults with a Weapon in 2003, Statistics Canada tables show:

• 98% of the injuries suffered by victims of police-reported assaults with a weapon were injured with something other than a firearm.
• 82% of assaults committed with a real firearm reported by police were committed with guns that were either already banned or handguns that should have been registered.
• 80% of injuries suffered by victims of police-reported assaults committed with real firearms were committed with guns that were either already banned or handguns that the government has been trying to register for the last 70 years.

“The sad truth is that every shooting reported by the media proves the Liberal’s firearms program isn’t working.  If the gun was unregistered – it failed!  If the gun was registered – it failed!  If the gun owner was unlicenced – it failed!  If the gun owner was licenced – it failed!  Isn’t it time to start targeting the root causes of violence in our society instead of pouring hundreds of millions more into this useless paper-pushing exercise called a gun registry?” asked Breitkreuz. 

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