FIREARMS FACTS - UPDATE

NUMBER OF GUNS STOLEN FROM OR LOST BY THE RCMP?

RCMP RESPONSE TO ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

FILE: 02ATIP-29518 dated September 3, 2003

BREITKREUZ ATI REQUEST – July 16, 2002

Between 1978 and 2000 the RCMP Annual Firearms Report to the Solicitor General have reported more than 100,000 firearms “lost, missing or stolen”.  Please provide reports that show the number and types of firearms were lost by, missing or stolen from the RCMP, other police forces, the military and public agents. 

Note: “Types” of firearms means: “prohibited, restricted, non-restricted”.

RCMP RESPONSE – September 3, 2003

This is in response to your request under the Access to Information Act received on September 9, 2002, seeking access to the report that shows the number and types of firearms that were lost by, missing or stolen from the RCMP.  Based on the information provided, a new search for records was conducted in Ottawa, Ontario.  To date we have the following update on available statistics.

STOLEN

·        Smith & Wesson pistols, model 5946                     STOLEN        14

·        Smith & Wesson revolver, model MDL 10-5           STOLEN          2

·        Remington Shotgun model 870                               STOLEN          1

                                                                                         Total:             17

LOST

·        Smith & Wesson pistols, model 5946                     LOST                2

·        Remington Shotgun model 870                             LOST                1

                                                                                         Total:               3

Internal Inventory Tracing Required

·        Unit issue weapons                                                     TRACING        23

·        Armoury weapons                                                       TRACING        65

                                                                                                Total:               88

It should be noted that the 88 weapons that require tracing are being located through our internal verification program.  This number decreases frequently but on the date the numbers were generated, it stood at 88.  The lost or stolen weapons remain static as they are confirmed and actual.  The verification program will continue until December 31, 2003, and we cannot give a complete inventory before January 2004.