I am a Canadian citizen, aged 19, and I would like to hear your points of view for
a political science presentation which I will be presenting a week from today. I
will explain the Canadian view of individual rights and the government on
firearms and perhaps you could comment on them objectively, rather than with
an “us vs. them” mindset. In Canada, our view of the government is much
different from that of the US in that we do not see it as something to be limited
and feared, but rather, as a uniting force within society. This being said, the
solidarity and well-being of society is held to be more important than the rights
of the individual, as these self-same individual rights may often be divisive or
contradictory. As such, we have far stricter gun control laws which require the
licencing of both handguns, and now, rifles. The protection of society on a whole
is seen as more important than the protection of individual rights, such as that
to possess a firearm. Of course, any law-abiding citizen MAY own a weapon, but
they are much harder to get. Owners must pass a background check and other
tests in order to possess firearms of any kind and they also must possess a
licence in order to purchase ammunition. This being said, it would appear that it
is more difficult to protect one’s self in Canada than elsewhere. This is not true.
Although there is, doubtless, countless ways for criminals to obtain handguns
and other weapons, the possession of firearms is so much lower in Canada, that
violent crime is much less of an issue here than it is in the United States. One
may believe that this is due to the “small town” nature of Canada. The fact is
that, per capita, the population of Canada is based more in major cities than is
that of the US. The homicide rate is far lower than it is for Americans, as is the
death rate as a result of handgun usage. My question for you is this: What is
more important? The rights of the individual, or the well-being of society as a
whole? This is not to say that Canadians do not enjoy most of the same rights
as Americans, however, when it comes to an issue such as this, we may, instead
of fearing government intervention into our personal lives, embrace it as a
furthering of our own desires for public safety and protection.