Passing Bill C-71 strengthens our gun laws to keep communities safe

By Karen McCrimmon, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
While crime rates have generally been declining in Canada for over 20 years, gun violence and gun crime has been rising since 2013, including gun homicides which have doubled. The federal government has a responsibility to take action to keep communities safe.
And Parliament responded, by passing Bill C-71, a package of common-sense measures to combat gun violence. Together with new federal investments in enforcement, prevention and countering smuggling, stronger laws will support public safety and bolster police work.
These key changes to our laws uphold the commitments Liberals made to Canadians in the last election to take action on background checks, licence verification, record-keeping, classification and transportation.
Police support C-71. It will help them catch criminals by requiring businesses to keep records of sales of non-restricted firearms, giving officers a starting place for investigations into crimes committed with these weapons, which account for 4 of 10 gun crimes. Gordon Sneddon from the Toronto Police told a parliamentary committee studying the legislation that “it’s really important from a policing and investigative perspective to be able to trace that firearm. I can’t stress that enough.” The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) called it “essential”.
Chief Adam Palmer, the President of the CACP, says C-71’s changes to licence verification are “critical” and that its stronger safeguards related to the transportation of restricted or prohibited firearms, like handguns an fully automatic rifles, mean “people are actually held more accountable” and “it would reduce the likelihood of theft from vehicles.” That’s vital—there are over 400 break and enters into motor vehicles to steal firearms every year.
New stronger, lifetime background checks for licensing will help keep guns out of the wrong hands. Not only does this keep guns away from gangsters, it helps address two silent tragedies: domestic violence and suicide.
The testimony before committees of Parliament was compelling: Lise Martin from Women’s Shelters Canada “strongly” supported C-71, saying that “the average number of women staying at the shelter on that day who had been threatened by a gun is 100. The link between guns and violence against women is clear.”
More than 500 people die in gun-related suicides every year in Canada, often youth. Professor Brian Mishara from the Université du Québec à Montréal backed the bill, noting “anything you can do to restrict, delay or make it more difficult for people who are vulnerable and suicidal to have access to guns will certainly save lives.”
Under the radar, a segment of gun users have been vigorously campaigning against these common sense measures. The Conservative Party has quietly, but aggressively courted them, opposing the bill at every turn, and running extensive targeted Facebook ads that only certain users see.
And it’s not just for show: Andrew Scheer has pledged that if he is elected Prime Minister this fall, he’ll repeal C-71 in its entirety.
Laws police call “essential” and “critical” would be gone.
That stance on guns is reckless, and doesn’t provide any comfort to the families and communities who are looking for real leadership to combat gun violence.
The differences between the two parties could not be more stark. There is only one party with a credible agenda for combatting the scourge of gun violence.