BCIFV home > Media Releases > October 27, 2000

BC INSTITUTE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE
Suite 551, 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1T2
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Incorporated under the Society Act

October 27, 2000
Vancouver Sun
Letters to the Editor

Dear Sir,

Re: Commentary Page - Opinion - John Ranta

The BC Institute Against Family Violence supports the new gun control legislation in Canada. When guns are easy to obtain and are stored carelessly, more of them will find their way into hands they should not be in, and more people will be injured and killed, whether they live in urban or rural communities.

Cache Creek Mayor John Ranta's Commentary on Oct. 25 suggests that only urban families support gun control. However studies of family violence in rural communities document women's fear of the use of firearms in domestic violence disputes.

In 1996, 32% of all domestic homicides involved firearms. In the 59 domestic firearm homicides, rifles and shotguns were used in 70% of cases. Legally acquired firearms are also used to threaten and intimidate spouses. Separating spouses are particularly at risk of violence.

And both rural and urban parents are concerned about the safety of children exposed to firearms. Provinces such as Alberta with a high rate of gun ownership also have a high rate of child injury and death from the use of firearms.

When we raise children in an atmosphere where their role models for conflict resolution are violent, and when we make guns readily available, a certain number of needless deaths will arise.

Are we stuck in some romantic but distorted remembrance of the Old West when men were men, right and wrong was cut and dried, and anybody who wanted could get a gun? Or are we willing to practice responsible gun ownership in order to increase the safety of our families?

Yours truly,

Penny Bain
Executive Director