Gun debate typifies historic tension between freedom, safety
Article originally appeared in: Advocate Daily [Archived]
Handgun bans infringe on the civil liberties of law-abiding citizens while doing nothing to prevent violent, predatory crime, says Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn.
“Anecdotally, legal restrictions on gun ownership do not deter criminals from utilizing a firearm in the commission of an offence,” says Dunn. “To a large extent, you are declawing the citizenry while allowing criminals to have access to firearms,” he says. Following a mass shooting in Toronto’s Greektown neighbourhood, the federal government is assessing a possible ban on handguns and assault weapons. But two researchers, John R. Lott, Jr. and Gary Mauser, write in the National Post that gun bans don’t work, and in fact, lead to an increase in murders.