Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty wants a handgun ban for Canada

Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com

The CBC reports that it is not the first time that McGuinty calls for a ban on handguns, but what happened last Tuesday, three shootings including two killings, prompted a renewal of that call. "I think we should be banning handguns," he said at Queen's Park on Wednesday. "I know they are the weapon of choice. They are convenient. They are easily concealed."

Toronto Mayor David Miller agrees with him, but not all prominent politicians do. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper wants tougher sentences, but not a ban. Instead, he accuses the other parties of not co-operating in making tougher laws against criminals.

Although the Liberals supported a ban on handguns in the last election campaign, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion seems to have other priorities. He thinks that assault weapons should have the focus since they have no other uses than military ones.

McGuinty accuses both of them of not understanding the magnitude of the issue. "When you're confronted in the face with the tragic consequences of gun crime, that might act as a stronger impetus," he said. He wants the federal parties to agree on a handgun ban throughout Canada. He also want parents to question themselves and see if they really are taking full responsibility for their children.

Personally, I believe the media and the politicians are exaggerating. They are exploiting the naiveté of the masses for their own benefit. Toronto is still one of the safest metropoles on the planet.

That said, I do support a ban on all guns, including handguns. Wholeheartedly. These things are made for one reason only, and it is sufficient to look at the US to see where more liberal gun laws can take us. The US is just about the unsafest country in the industrialized West. However, I am not naive enough to believe that a gun ban will reduce gun crimes in a significant way. After all, shootings like the ones we just had in Toronto are not usually done by people who are legal gun owners. Also, since guns are so easy to get in the US, they cross the border with more ease than most people. A ban will just make it a little bit harder to get to one. It will also reduce the risk of gun accidents at home. Every single gun taken out of circulation, reduces the risk, if only just a little.

It has been argued that bans will increase the demand for martial arts classes, and that this is dangerous as well. I agree. However, there are some significant advantages to such a shift. While it is certainly far from pleasant to receive a beating, it is eminently more survivable than a shooting.

What do you think?