Firearms Registry Has Failed in Its Primary Goals

By 250 News

The Fraser Institute has released a study on the effectiveness of the long gun registry in Canada.

SFU Professor  and Senior Fellow with the Fraser Institute, Gary Mauser, is the author of the report   “Hubris in the North,  the  Canadian Firearms Registry” .  He concludes the  firearms registry  has failed in its primary  goals to  reduce  violent crime and suicide rates.

Mauser  points out that while  the number of crimes involving firearms and the number of  firearm related deaths have  decreased since the gun registry was implemented in 1998,  total criminal violence, and  suicide rates  remain “stubbornly stable.”

His report also shows how the total homicide rate has actually increased by 9% and gang related homicides have more than doubled between 1998 and 2005.

He reports that while the overall suicide rate slipped by 3% “an increase in suicides by hanging has nearly cancelled out the reduction in the number of suicides involving firearms.” 

Mauser says his research shows those who have motive, will find an alternate means “Motive is the key” says Mauser.   When asked if his report was then actually suggesting “Guns don’t kill, People do, ” he says his message really is, “Stop wasting time and money and do something that works.”

Mauser says at a cost of more than $2 billion dollars, the dollars could have been better spent on mental health programs, or keeping violent offenders behind bars, or improving probation or parole supervision. 

The SFU  prof has never owned a firearm, nor has he hunted, but  says as his reaserch on the issue progressed,  he came to believe the political reaction to  violent acts involving  firearms is disconnected from the real problem.   “When someone uses a firearm to commit crime, the obvious thing  is to attack the hunter in Northern British Columbia as being  the one to blame”.   There is also  a growing movement  within urban centres to ( as he refers to it) "demonize" gun owners.

“Clearly, the evidence shows that the registry has failed Canadians. It has failed to reduce gang violence or stop senseless killings. So why then, should we trust it, and why should we continue to fund it?”

He says while the basic tone of his paper is negative,  the positive side is that  it points to where dollars could be  better spent to effect change and reduce violent crime.

Mauser is hopeful   his report will open some eyes, but is also very realistic  “ Those who are paying attention are either already in the choir,  or they already hate you.”

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