Handguns Are Only Manufactured for One Thing

Mayor David Miller of Toronto is campaigning to have handguns banned in Canada for all uses except those of law enforcement officers. At the moment, the weapons are allowed to target shooters and collectors as well. He has released a video, now showing on the city's website, asking for people to sign an online petition pressuring the federal government to change the law governing this weaponry. "I'm asking for your help", Miller says as he speaks of the devastation wrought on the families of shooting victims and his desire to stop other families from being victimized in this way. "Handguns are only manufactured for one thing", Miller says, adding that one thing is "to be used to kill."
When you know some of the stats about the impact of firearms on Canadians, it's hard to come up with a good reason not to sign the petition. In 2006, the stats tell us that Canadians were victimized by violent gun crime at a rate of almost one person per every hour in the year. On average, more than 1,200 Canadians are killed and over 1,000 injured with firearms each year, at an estimated economic cost of $6 billion per year. Canada ranks fifth among 26 industrialized countries in the rate of firearm deaths among children under the age of 14 years. This is not exactly our greatest claim to fame. It certainly is something we should be trying to change. The 2006 national rate of youth (12 to 17 years) accused of a firearm-related violent crime was an increase of 32% from 2002. If a ban on handguns helped to change these stats for the better, it would make the time it takes you to sign the petition some of the best time you have ever given to a cause. Please take a moment to follow this link. Sign the petition, and add your name to those who want to help end the handgun violence.