Evaluation of the Canadian Gun Control Legislation - First Progress Report

• NCJ Number: 78695
• Author(s): E Scarff; T Jacques; M McAuley; T Zaharchuk
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 278 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Solicitor General
• Corporate Author: Decision Dynamics Corporation
• Sale Source: Canada Solicitor General; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This report highlights first-year findings of a 3-year evaluation on the effectiveness of Canadian Government firearm legislation, Bill C-51.

Abstract

The study involves two basic types of analyses. The first assesses various objective measures that would indicate whether or not Bill C-51 was promoting a reduction in criminal and other types of firearm incidents. The second examines the implementation of the legislative and administrative provisions, and where possible, their effects. Containing major innovations, Bill C-51 became effective in 1978 and created the positions of firearms officers and Chief Provincial/Territorial Firearms Officers (CPFO's), the Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) program, and additional categories of firearm prohibition orders. The bill expanded types of permits needed by businesses dealing with firearms and ammunition and authorized search and seizure without a warrant, even when the occurrence was not a criminal offense. It also increased the scope of certain offenses, provided for more severe penalties for the criminal use of firearms, and suspended prosecution for illegal possession of firearms of persons submitting their firearms for disposal or registration. The evaluation involved collection of data from three geographical levels: national, provincial, and local. Analyses indicated that the use of firearms in criminal activities was decreasing in Canada in the late 1970's. However, the rate of noncriminal firearm incidents has not changed since the mid-1970's. Generally, the increased administrative steps required to conduct applicant screening and central recordkeeping are being handled smoothly and efficiently. Specific findings are discussed for the legislative provisions, including administrative changes, screening, prohibition, the regulation of businesses, search and seizure, sentencing, safe handling and storage, and amnesty and recall. The report recommends collecting the $10 FAC fee with the preliminary FAC application to reduce the number of processed applications which are never picked up, designing a standard national method of reporting and recording prohibitions, and implementing centralized business inspection systems in all provinces. Tables and graphs are provided. Statistics and the text of Bill C-51 are appended.