NCJ Number
91573
Date Published
1983
Length
231 pages
Annotation
The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1977, has had a moderate impact on the use of firearms in Canada. Generally, the police and judicial systems have effectively implemented the legislation's provisions.
Abstract
This final report on a 3-year study of the effectiveness of those provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1977, which amended the Criminal Code sections relating to firearms in Canada, contains two types of analyses: an 'outcome analysis,' which examined the incidence of crimes, accidents, and suicides with firearms before and after the legislation, and a 'process analysis,' which examined the implementation of firearm controls. The outcome analysis found that in a considerable number of cases, the proportion of occurrences with firearms declined subsequent to the legislation. The process analysis found that overall, the methods of firearms control encouraged by the legislation have been used. For example, convictions for firearm offenses resulted in more severe sentences after 1979. Notes, tables, figures, and the Criminal Law Amendment, 1977, are provided. (Author abstract modified)