Letters: More gun laws are not the answer to tragic shootings |
Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr
Letters: More gun laws are not the answer to tragic shootings
Readers speak out on recent shootings, sky-high World Cup costs, 'rights' for trees, Elon Musk, antisemitism and more in letters to the editor
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
‘Canadians have heard this before’
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
Unlimited online access to National Post.
National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
Support local journalism.
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
Unlimited online access to National Post.
National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
Support local journalism.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
Re: Montreal mayor calls for stricter gun control in wake of deadly shootings — Chris Lambie, June 23
Letters: More gun laws are not the answer to tragic shootings Back to video
Within hours of the tragic June 22 shootings in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada was calling for stricter gun laws.
Canadians have heard this before.
After the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989, Canada strengthened its firearms laws. After the subsequent shootings at Concordia University and Dawson College, we heard renewed calls for more restrictions. Yet decades later, despite some of the strictest firearms laws in the democratic world, a Montreal police officer is dead, having made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the public, and an innocent bystander has lost his life.
Law-abiding firearms owners are licensed, vetted, trained, screened, regulated and monitored. Every new restriction is followed by people who obey the law.
This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)
There was an error, please provide a valid email address.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Platformed will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.
Criminals do not obey the law. That is the flaw in the mayor’s argument.
The gang member carrying an illegal firearm does not care about another regulation. The violent extremist does not care about another prohibition. The individual prepared to murder innocent people or kill a police officer is not concerned with complying with firearms legislation.
Every new restriction falls on those who follow the law, not those who break it.
Before demanding more legislation, perhaps we should ask a simple question: Would another restriction on a licensed firearms owner have prevented the Montreal tragedy?
If the answer is no, then our efforts should be focused on illegal firearms trafficking, organized crime, violent extremism, and giving police the tools they need to protect our communities.
The best way to honour the fallen officer and the innocent victim is not to repeat the same political response after every tragedy. It is to focus on the people responsible for the violence and support the officers who put........