Memorial to RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson. Photo: Riley Smith, Canadian Press.
April 2020
In the wake of the unbelievable tragedy inflicted by gunman Gabriel Wortman (whose name I will mention only once for historical value) in Nova Scotia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hasn’t even waited until the bodies of the dead are cold before advising he will continue with his campaign to ban “assault rifles” and ramp up Canada’s already very strict gun-control laws.
It’s been reported that 22 people, including RCMP Cst Heidi Stevenson, were killed by this insane monster, who used a home-made replica of a marked RCMP scout car and either a real or replica RCMP uniform to assist him in his rampage.
The RCMP are reporting that the gunman did not have a firearms licence, which would mean he was already violating the law simply by possessing firearms; before he even fired a shot; before he even committed the offence of impersonating a peace officer.
We already have very strict gun-control laws, so why does any one out there honestly think that stricter gun-control laws would have stopped this maniac from going on his rampage? Not having a firearms licence didn’t impede his ability to get firearms in the first place. This is of course, besides the fact that when someone is intent on committing murder, I doubt the possibility of facing Firearms Act charges are of much concern for such a monster.
The harsh reality is that gun laws and gun bans are completely useless unless there is real punishment for offenders.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have gun laws, especially relating to the safe use and storage of firearms, but gun bans only punish law-abiding owners.
When the mourning period is over, why don’t we take more of an interest in jailing real criminals, like the gang-bangers already shooting up our cities with illegal handguns; you know, the ones who are out on bail committing additional offences before the ink on their arrest report is even dry? It won’t stop all gun crimes and murders with guns, but it’s a more realistic option and may actually do some good.
Sources: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/rcmp-give-new-details-on-timeline-of-manhunt-for-ns-shooter/ar-BB133rNj?ocid=spartandhp, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/nova-scotia-shooting-death-toll-canada, https://thehill.com/policy/international/493992-trudeau-vows-to-push-for-stricter-gun-laws-in-the-wake-of-nova-scotia.
