Category:Canada

While Canada may not have as high a per-capita rate of gun ownership as some other nations, such as the United States or Switzerland, Canada still sports a thriving shooting sports community (the number of gun owners in Canada, both registered and not, has been estimated at up to 7 million) and a long tradition of law-abiding gun ownership. This is particularly true in rural and northern areas where firearms are an integral part of life, often needed to defend one's livestock or (in far northern communities) even oneself from hostile wildlife.

Deaths by firearm

The RCMP says that "the majority of firearm deaths in Canada are caused by long guns." Just what does that have to do with the registry? Over 75% of gun deaths in Canada are suicides.

Firearm deaths in Canada, 2000-2006

Cause of death	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Accidental discharge of firearms	20	28	31	27	23	17	17
Assault (homicide) by discharge of firearms	156	148	137	138	149	202	166
Discharge of firearms, undetermined intent	9	10	11	7	3	6	5
Intentional self-harm (suicide) by discharge of firearms	685	651	633	618	568	593	586
Total	870	837	812	790	743	818	774
Percent of gun deaths that are suicides	78.7	77.7	78	78.2	76.4	72.5	75.7

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 102-0551 - Deaths and mortality rate, by selected grouped causes, age group and sex, Canada, annual, CANSIM (database). http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.exe?Lang=E&CNSM-Fi=CII/CII_1-eng.htm (accessed: September 2, 2010)

Public Opinion

Contrary to the propaganda of Cukier & Company, gun ownership enjoys overwhelming support in Canada. A CFI poll^[1] conducted from January 18th to January 23rd, 2010 asked the question:

"In Canada private ownership of firearms is legal for hunting, target practice and other recreational purposes. To own a firearm someone must be licensed by the government and cannot have a criminal record or mental instability. Should private ownership of firearms remain legal in Canada or should private firearms ownership be banned entirely?"

• In total, 75.8% agreed that private firearms ownership should remain legal in Canada.
• Only 22.1% agreed private firearms ownership should be banned entirely in Canada.
• Support for private ownership reached as high as 91.2% (in Sasflatchewan).
• Even in Quebec, the gun-grabbingest province in the country, 71.8% favoured legal ownership of firearms.
• 69.7% of women favoured legal gun ownership.
• 78.9 % of those with a household of income under 65,000 were in favour vs. 87.5% with incomes over 65,000.
• 79 % of high school graduates agreed, vs. 82% of college grads.

The margin of error for the study is 3.08% 19 times out of 20.

	There was an assumption by the powers that be that it was about 65% in favour and 30% opposed [to private ownership of firearms].
— Terry Burns, CFI-ICAF Board of Governors Chairman

References

1. ↑ "CFI Poll destroys the Canadian Myth", CFI website.