DO THE LIBERALS EVEN KNOW WHAT THE BENEFITS OF GUN OWNERSHIP ARE

FIREARMS FACTS - UPDATE

DO THE LIBERALS EVEN KNOW WHAT THE BENEFITS OF GUN OWNERSHIP ARE?

GARRY BREITKREUZ NEEDS YOUR HELP

Please send any additional benefits of gun ownership

to Garry Breitkreuz, MP: breitg@parl.gc.ca

GOVERNMENT’S COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS A “CABINET SECRET”

Since my news release of February 27, 2003 titled: NO REAL COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF GUN REGISTRY HAS EVER BEEN COMPLETED (see link below), the CEO of the Canadian Firearms Centre admitted that the government did complete a cost benefit analysis but that it can’t be released because it has been declared a Cabinet secret.

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/breitkreuzgpress/guns77.htm

GOVERNMENT DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF GUN OWNERSHIP

Our concern is that even if the government did complete a cost benefit analysis that the benefits would be vastly understated. From everything the government has published on guns and gun owners since 1994, it is obvious they don’t even have a good understanding of what the benefits that guns and gun owners provide to our society.

A good example of this oversight was provided in the government’s response to my Order Paper Question – Q-149 (r) How many times are firearms used by citizens for self-defence every year?

STATISTICS CANADA RESPONSE: (r) “Statistics Canada has no data and is unaware of any alternate source of information for firearms discharge in self-defence.”

This is an amazing response for the government to make. Firstly, they didn’t even understand that a firearm doesn’t have to be discharged to be used defensively. Secondly, if the government has never determined how public safety is improved through the defensive use of firearms by law-abiding citizens, how can they possibly support their claim that their gun control laws are a net benefit to society? It seems to me that the government has left out the most important piece of evidence needed for an intelligent debate and defence of their firearms laws and regulations.

Surely, the government is aware of a peer-reviewed study titled, “Armed self defense: the Canadian case,” by Gary A. Mauser, Ph D, Institute of Canadian Urban Research Studies and Faculty of Business Administration, Simon Fraser University. Doctor Mauser’s surveys found: “Canadians report using firearms to protect themselves between 60,000 and 80,000 times per year from dangerous people or animals. More importantly, between 19,000 and 37,500 of these incidents involve defence against human threats.”

NOTE: See the government’s response to Order Paper Question Q-149:

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/questions/june-3-2002response.htm

NEXT PHASE OF THE GUN REGISTRY DEBATE IS COST-EFFECTIVENESS

While Parliament is still to determine the total cost of the gun registry and how the government’s estimates were so out of whack, the Official Opposition and responsible firearms owners need to be focused on the next phase of the debate; namely, the cost-effectiveness of the new gun control measures imposed by Bill C-68. To this end, we are in the process of developing a complete list of the societal benefits of firearms ownership with a brief description of each benefit.

PRELIMINARY LIST OF BENEFITS OF GUN OWNERSHIP

NOTE: Please send any additional benefits to Garry Breitkreuz, MP: breitg@parl.gc.ca

(1) Self-Defensive Use of Firearms

(a) Firearms use to defend persons from human and animal attacks.

See article by Gary A. Mauser, Ph D: Armed Self-Defence: The Canadian Case

http://www.sfu.ca/~mauser/papers/selfdefense/CSD-JCJ-JFP-8-3-99.pdf

(b) Firearms use to defend homes and property from theft and robbery.

(c) Victims of attempted homicide and assaults are less likely to be injured if they defend themselves with a gun than if they offer no resistance or use any other weapon to protect themselves.

(d) Robberies and thefts are less likely to be successfully completed if the victim is seen to be in possession of a firearm.

NOTE: See Gary Kleck’s book: “Guns and Violence in America”.

http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/Kleck/point-blank-summary

(2) Firearms Deter Criminals and Crime

(a) Burglars avoid homes when people are home because they fear getting shot. More firearms in the hands of honest citizens means fewer burglaries while people are at home – that is, burglaries of the most dangerous sort.

(b) Countries with stiff gun control law experience more burglaries when people are at home because they have less fear of getting shot.

NOTE: Professor John Lott’s book: “More Guns, Less Crime”.

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/493636.html

NOTE: Joyce Lee Malcolm: “Gun Control’s Twisted Outcome”.

http://reason.com/0211/fe.jm.gun.shtml

NOTE: Professor Gary A. Mauser – “National Experiences with Firearms Regulation: Evaluating the Implications for Public Safety”.

http://www.sfu.ca/~mauser/papers/LondonTower2003/NationalExperiences.pdf

(3) Economic Benefits of Firearms Ownership

(a) Sustenance hunting

(b) Sport hunting (big game, small game, migratory birds)

(d) Sport shooting – Recreational, Olympic and International competitions

(e) Gun Clubs and Shooting Ranges

(f) Gun Shows

(g) Predator control

(h) Hunting licence sales

(i) Firearms and ammunition sales

(j) Tourism – Canadian and foreign hunters

(k) Guiding and Outfitting

(l) Gun collecting

(m) Gun smithing

(n) Firearms and ammunition manufacturing

(o) Firearms importing and exporting

(p) Firearms museums

(q) Sporting goods sales, manufacturing and related goods

(r) Recreational vehicle manufacturing, sales and service

(s) Movie and television productions

(t) Historical Re-enactments

(u) Employment for Canadians in all of the above.

NOTE: See minutes of Justice Committee Meeting – February 5, 2002

http://www.parl.gc.ca/InfoComDoc/37/1/JUST/Meetings/Evidence/JUSTEV60-E.HTM

NOTE: See RED-TAPE AND TAXES DRIVING HUNTERS OUT OF THEIR SPORT

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/redtapetaxes.htm

(4) Family Relationships and Character Development

(a) Turning around juvenile delinquents – reducing youth crime

NOTE: See Dr. Randall Eaton’s book: “The Sacred Hunt”

http://www.eoni.com/~reaton

(b) Sport open to all cultures and the handicapped

(5) Environmental Benefits

(a) Wildlife habitat protection and onservation

(6) Firearms and Wilderness Survival

(7) Firearms and Aboriginal Hunting Rights

(a) Aboriginal communities, business and employment

(8) Firearms in War, Defence of Country & Sovereignty

(a) Military manufacturing, imports and exports

(b) Cadets, Arctic Rangers, Reserves, Coast Guard

(d) Fighting Terrorism

(9) Gun Owners available to Assist Police in Emergencies

(10) Firearms and Canada’s History, Heritage and Culture

(a) Historical Re-enactments

(11) Protecting Rights, Freedoms and Democracy

(a) Ultimate defence against government tyranny

(b) Protection of Property Rights