FreeAlberta.com: For An Independent Alberta

The Financial Costs of Gun Control

When Canada passed Bill C-68, the costs were originally estimated to be roughly $2 million. Since the bill was enacted, the costs have been nearly $1 billion. The federal government admits that the costs will be $1.5 billion before the program reaches a "steady state." When costs of enforcement at all levels of government are considered, the costs may well exceed $3 billion (Breitkreuz, 2003).

Gun Control is not Crime Control
"Gun control? It's the best thing you can do for crooks and gangsters. I want you to have nothing. If I'm a bad guy, I'm always gonna have a gun. Safety locks? You will pull the trigger with a lock on, and I'll pull the trigger. We'll see who wins."
-Mafia informant Sammy "The Bull" Gravano

There is little empirical evidence that reducing general access to firearms reduces criminal violence. In fact, empiricial evidence suggests that the more punitive gun control is, the greater the level of violent crime. For example:
1. US per capita handgun ownership remained stable in the first 30 years of the 20th century, while the homicide rate rose tenfold; between 1937 and 1963, the American homicide rate fell 35.7%
2. In 1976, Washington D.C. enacted stringent gun controls. Since then, the homicide rate has risen 134% while the national rate fell 2%.
3. Maryland claims to have the "toughest gun laws" in the U.S., and has the highest robbery rate, and ranks 4th in violent crimes and murders.
4. 20% of American crimes occur in 4 cities with roughly 6% of the U.S. population (Detroit, Chicago, New York and Washington D.C.). Each has a virtual prohibition on private handguns.
5. Switzerland has fewer gun controls than the U.S., and lower crime.
6. Australia and England, which have essentially banned gun ownership, have the highest rates of robbery, sexual assault and assault among the top 17 industrialized countries.
7. Since banning guns, the UK has seen a dramatic rise in violent crime.
8. Since banning guns, Australia has seen greater than 100% increases in armed robbery, kidnapings, assaults, attempted murder and sexual assaults.
9. Alberta has the highest rates of firearm ownership in Canada. Alberta does not have the highest crime rate in Canada, and has the lowest crime rate in Western Canada.

Gun Control: Unenforceable & It Threatens Rights

When Canada passed Bill C-68, not only did the program fail from the perspective of rising costs into the billions of dollars, but many millions of citizens decided not to register their firearms. Not only has the government decided to create millions of innocent criminals, but the breadth of firearm ownership makes enforcement of registration impossible.

Suppose the government decides to attempt better enforcement of Bill C-68. What effect will this have on civil liberties, such as the protection from illegal searches and seizures? The U.S. has seen a weakening of the 4th Amendment from BATF seizures resulting from a zeal in confiscating firearms. What is in store for Albertans from the enforcement of Bill C-68?

Further, restrictive gun control harms certain members of the population more than others, especially when self-defense is an issue. Women, by nature, tend to not have the physical strength of men. In a criminal attack by a man against a woman, the woman will in most cases be at a disadvantage. Firearms counteract this difference. Abridging the right to bear arms disproportionately harms women, which leads to some questions regarding the equality of right under the law.

Gun Ownership Is A Right

Firearm ownership is a right in several respects. First, firearms are property, and ownership of firearms is no different than ownership of other property.

Second, firearms allow effective self-defense, and individuals have a right to protect themselves and their property from threats.

Alberta Culture & Firearms

Alberta has the highest gun ownership in Canada. As such, Albertans favor the right to bear arms to a much greater extent than other Canadians. The National Firearms Association and the Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Association are both based in Edmonton, and are two of the most prominent organizations protecting the right to bear firearms. Alberta has been at the forefront of the legal battle against Bill C-68, and was the first to refuse to prosecute the law.

Albertans have a proud heritage that includes activities such as hunting and target shooting. Further, these activities are ingrained in the Albertan mindset to a greater extent than in Canada. Susan Nattrass, an Olympic athlete from Medicine Hat, placed 6th in Trap Shooting in the 2004 Olympics. West Edmonton Mall, the World's Largest Shopping Mall has a shooting range in it, The Shooting Centre . To contrast with the rest of Canada, when Susan Nattrass lived in Nova Scotia, she almost gave up shooting because the closest range was in Toronto.

Alberta (along with Saskatchewan) is opposed to the firearms registry. This shows yet another difference between Albertans and Canadians.