The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released new Leger polling showing 55 per cent of Canadians think that stopping illegal gun smuggling is the most effective way to reduce gun crime.

“The poll shows that Canadians know the real problem is illegal gun smuggling, not firearms owned by licenced Canadian gun owners,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Planning to spend potentially billions of dollars on a program that Canadians don’t think is effective is a waste of money.

“Law-enforcement experts are telling Ottawa to focus on smugglers instead of licenced gun owners and this poll shows Canadians agree with that commonsense reality.”

The federal government originally announced the gun ban and buyback scheme in 2020. The government has started collecting firearms from businesses, but the government has not yet taken a single gun from individual Canadian gun owners.

The Leger poll asked Canadians what they think is the most effective way to reduce gun crime. Results of the poll show:

  • 55 per cent say introducing tougher measures to stop the illegal smuggling of guns into Canada from the United States is most effective.
  • 26 per cent say banning the sale and ownership of many different makes and models of guns as well as using a government buyback program is the most effective.
  • Eight per cent say neither of these options.
  • 11 per cent don’t know.

These results echo what police organizations have been saying for years.

The National Police Federation, the union representing the RCMP, says Ottawa’s buyback “diverts extremely important personnel, resources, and funding away from addressing the more immediate and growing threat of criminal use of illegal firearms.”

“There is no evidence that gun bans are effective in reducing this violence, particularly when 85 per cent of guns seized by our members can be traced back to the United States,” said the Toronto Police Association.

The government said the buyback program would cost taxpayers $200 million in 2019. Just buying back the guns, not including administrative costs, could cost up to $756 million, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Since then, the government has banned hundreds of other models of firearms as well as accessories, increasing the potential cost to taxpayers.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to “reinvigorate the implementation” of Ottawa’s gun ban and buyback program.

“Ordinary Canadians and the experts both know this policy isn’t going to make anyone safer so the government needs to stop wasting money on this scheme,” Haubrich said. “It’s time to listen to Canadians and scrap the gun ban and buyback.”

  • mindbleach@sh.itjust.works
    21·
    6 days ago

    ‘Most people think’ doesn’t guarantee shit about what has more impact.

    Whether you think it’s effective does not decide it’s effective.

    • ohshit604@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
      3·
      6 days ago

      These results echo what police organizations have been saying for years.

      The National Police Federation, the union representing the RCMP, says Ottawa’s buyback “diverts extremely important personnel, resources, and funding away from addressing the more immediate and growing threat of criminal use of illegal firearms.”

      The RCMP endorses these results? People who intend to commit firearm related crime don’t go out of their way to complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, agree to daily background checks & screening and apply for a PAL/RPAL to then purchase a firearm that has to be registered to them.

      Our firearm related crime has been increasing, not decreasing over the last 5 years, it’s clear that criminals will not respect these bans and find other ways to obtain prohibited firearms.

      • mindbleach@sh.itjust.works
        22·
        6 days ago

        “Other ways” never including buying from people who have guns. The ones that’d be removed from circulation by a buyback.

        This is the exact same shit Americans push when you try introducing the concept of fewer guns. As if “criminals” will just pull guns from thin air, so long as any one of them can get a new one through a loophole.

        As if it’s contradictory to do a buyback program AND ALSO REDUCE SMUGGLING.

        • ohshit604@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
          2·
          6 days ago

          “Other ways” never including buying from people who have guns. The ones that’d be removed from circulation by a buyback.

          The confiscation won’t remove these firearms from circulation, like mentioned, criminals will find other ways like the most popular smuggle in from our neighbour down south.

          • Canada shares the world’s longest undefended border with the world’s largest manufacturer of small arms: The United States. In 2019 alone, 2,242 illegally sold guns used in crimes in Canada were traced back to manufacturers in the United States.’ In April 2020, 22 people including RCMP Constable Heidi Stephenson lost their lives in a tragic mass shooting in which all firearms used were illegally obtained. Of the four firearms used, three were obtained illegally from the United States," and the gunman did not have a Possession and Acquisition firearms license, making his possession of any firearm illegal.

          Source

          The insinuation that PAL/RPAL holders are willy-nilly giving firearms out is absurd and frankly offensive, I know many responsible firearms owners and we as Canadians know owning firearms is a privilege so to go through all the legal hoops to then be treated as a criminal is ridiculous.

          Edit: If you could site some articles that state PAL/RPAL holders are illegally selling their firearms to be used in crimes I would gladly like to read them.

          This is the exact same shit Americans push when you try introducing the concept of fewer guns. As if “criminals” will just pull guns from thin air, so long as any one of them can get a new one through a loophole.

          I’ve mentioned this previously on Lemmy, America has its own problem with firearms, the unfettered access to one is a dangerous concept and should not be a comparison to Canada.

          Canada has an established system to determine who is fit to lawfully purchase and possess a firearm, I obviously am a prime example of a Canadian firearms owner and love target shooting and would not sacrifice the hobby I enjoy for some petty crime.

          As if it’s contradictory to do a buyback program AND ALSO REDUCE SMUGGLING.

          The confiscation will cost billions of tax payer dollars and ultimately achieve the opposite effect, as mentioned in my previous comment firearm related crime has been increasing, not decreasing even with these bans already in effect.

          We need to focus on the root cause of criminals obtaining prohibited firearms, not licensed owners who have to keep their newly prohibited firearms locked up until the govt decides on the next course of action.