Letter: Gun statistics would be more useful if broken down
Date: Sep 7, 2006 10:21 AM
PUBLICATION: Edmonton Journal
DATE: 2006.09.07
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Letters
PAGE: A15
BYLINE: Jack Reader
SOURCE: The Edmonton Journal
WORD COUNT: 166

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Gun statistics would be more useful if broken down

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Re: “Alberta aiming for month-long gun amnesty,” The Journal, Sept. 6.

It would be interesting to see the statistics broken down.

How many of the guns surrendered were handguns? How many of Edmonton’s
39 homicides in 2005 and 18 so far this year were committed with
handguns? And how many of those homicides were crime- or drug-related.
Were the guns registered? Were they stolen? If so, were the owners
investigated to ensure they were following the safe-storage laws?

How many times have police charged someone with the use of a firearm
during the commission of an offence, which carries a minimum four-year,
consecutive sentence to any other sentence the judge may hand out? How
many of those charges were plea bargained away by the Crown? And why
destroy the useful and lawful firearms that are surrendered?

Could people not donate them to gun clubs or fish-and-game clubs who
could use them to teach people who are interested in the outdoors about
the proper use and safe handling of firearms? Could people not sell them
to lawful users? I obtained several long guns during an amnesty period
some years ago and raised money for a local club.

Jack Reader, retired RCMP, Morinville