Letter: ‘Gun-happy’ U.S. safer than Canada
Date: Nov 5, 2005 9:51 AM
PUBLICATION: Montreal Gazette
DATE: 2005.11.05
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Editorial / Op-ed
PAGE: A30
SOURCE: The Gazette
WORD COUNT: 159

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‘Gun-happy’ U.S. safer than Canada

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Re: “Guns in Canada not an American Problem” (Editorial, Oct. 31) and
your comment about U.S. “gun-friendly culture” being an “intractable
problem.” Why are our Canadian cousins so concerned about this “problem”?
Consider these facts:

According to official figures, Canada had 5,088 crimes per 100,000 in 2003 (vs.
4,063 in the U.S.). Of these, Canada had 965 violent crimes (vs. 475 in the U.S.),
and 4,123 property crimes (vs. 3,588 in the U.S.). Put another way, Canada’s violent
crime rate is 50 per cent higher, and its property crime rate 15 per cent higher,
than those of the U.S.

Toronto, once the safest large city in North America, now has more muggings, car
thefts and assaults per capita than New York City.

The point is the U.S. “gun-friendly culture” does not trouble most Americans.
Most enjoy a safer country than Canada along with this “gun-friendly culture.”

Perhaps the real problem is a country that is both safe and “gun-friendly”-
a situation that interferes with the agenda of certain Canadian politicians.

Mark Crispin
Bainbridge Island, Wash.