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News and Events >
Bill C-391
PRESS RELEASE - Bill C-391 - a Bill to repeal the Long Gun
Registry
CFUW: OTTAWA
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) is deeply
distressed by the November 4, 2009 vote in the House of Commons on
Bill C-391 to scrap the long gun registry.
In 1989, Marc Lepine massacred 14 young women, just because they
were women, at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. The
assault weapon used in that massacre is still sold legally.
Members rejoiced with the passage of Bill C-68 that made long gun
registration a reality in Canada. The Gun Registry shows who
owns a registered gun.
Accidents and botched suicide attempts using long guns places a
heavy burden on Canada's health care system compared to the
relative costs of registration. In rural Canada nearly every home
has at least one long gun. Bill C-391 puts rural women and
children in danger. When domestic violence occurs, the long gun is
the weapon of choice. 88% of women murdered by a gun are killed by
a long gun. The repeal of the registry shows a callous disregard
for the safety of rural Canadians.
The registry is a tool that the police forces use when called out
to investigate an incident, to find out whether there are guns on
the premises. Canada's two million gun owners need to be
accountable for their seven million fire-arms. The Chiefs of
Police have said, "This is about public safety. The registry
has made Canada a safer country."
Bill C-391 insults the memory of those 14 young women and sends a
message to the women of Canada that the Government does not care
about violence against women.
Contact: Susan Russell, CFUW
613 234 82523
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