According to a research report by the Privy Council Office (PCO), Canadians are skeptical about the effectiveness of a national freeze on the import and sale of handguns in reducing crime if the firearms used in crimes are illegally smuggled into Canada. While most respondents supported reducing crimes involving handguns and decreasing the overall number of handguns, they believed that the ban would not be effective in achieving this goal. The PCO’s research, drawn from federal focus groups commissioned under a $2.4 million contract with The Strategic Counsel, found that illegal smuggling and trafficking of firearms should be the priority in countering gun crime in Canada. The report also highlighted concerns of law-abiding gun owners, who felt that the ban was unfairly restrictive. Despite skepticism from Canadians and police chiefs of major Canadian cities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau maintains that the handgun ban will reduce gun crime.
Canadian research doubts effectiveness of handgun freeze on crime.
