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Debating David Miller's handgun ban

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Re: Ban Not Enough To End Gun Violence, April 8.

Toronto Mayor David Miller's campaign to ban handguns, while perhaps well-intentioned, needs clarification. Handguns are already subject to a de facto national ban, and have been since 1934, for all but a few legitimate purposes.

Mayor Miller's comment that "Handguns are designed for one purpose and that is to kill people and have no place in our society," is shocking, if not offensive, to law-abiding citizens who require them for employment purposes (such as police and armoured car guards), licensed and legitimate target shooters, such as Olympic competitors, and approved collectors.

Our government has always been clear about our commitment to effective gun control. We believe, as do the majority of Canadians, that effective gun control means targeting criminals, and the criminal misuse of firearms, not Olympic competitors or the collectors of historic firearms.

Unlike other jurisdictions, like the U.K., where banning handguns resulted in an increase in firearms crime, the steps we are taking are proven to reduce gun crime. We are delivering on our promise to hire 1,000 new RCMP personnel. We have committed up to $400-million to assist the provinces and territories in recruiting 2,500 new front-line police officers. We have also invested $19.5-million for our border enforcement teams to deal with drug and gun smuggling.

This latter initiative is crucial since, as Toronto Chief of Police William Blair told the House of Commons justice committee, the vast majority of the firearms seized by the Toronto police have in fact been smuggled across the border.

Further, our Tackling Violent Crime Act means tougher mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes, particularly those that involve gangs and criminal organizations. These are the groups that use already illegal firearms to commit their crimes. Indeed, in 2005, of the 129 homicides committed with a handgun, just four were known to be registered. In 2006, that number was only six out of 108.

Our government is concentrating resources on what works best, on making our gun control system effective and on combating the criminal use of firearms in Canada. Be assured we will continue to work with provincial and territorial governments in all these necessary and effective measures.

Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, Ottawa.