NCJ Number
49677
Date Published
1977
Length
95 pages
Annotation
A 1976 SURVEY OF THE ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS OF CANADIANS REGARDING CRIME AND PROPOSED GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION IS REPORTED.
Abstract
TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH A RANDOM SAMPLE OF 1,586 CANADIANS. THE RESPONSES INDICATE THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT CRIME IN CANADA, THERE IS RELATIVELY LITTLE INTEREST OR INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME CONTROL MEASURES. FOR EXAMPLE, GIVEN A LIST OF CONCERNS, SUBJECTS CHOSE CRIME SECOND ONLY TO INFLATION AND SIGNIFICANTLY AHEAD OF ENERGY COSTS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER CONCERNS. APPROXIMATELY 3 OUT OF 10 RESPONDENTS SAID THEY KNEW WHAT PARLIAMENT WAS DOING OR PROPOSING TO DO ABOUT CRIME, BUT FEW COULD MENTION ANYTHING SPECIFIC OTHER THAN ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. TWO-THIRDS OF THE RESPONDENTS FELT CRIME HAD INCREASED IN CANADA OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND ONE-HALF SAID THAT GUN-RELATED CRIME HAD INCREASED. NINE OUT OF TEN RESPONDENTS FELT THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE MISUSE OF FIREARMS. MOST (85 PERCENT) RESPONDENTS COULD NOT EXPRESS AN OPINION ON PROPOSED GUN CONTROL MEASURES BEFORE PARLIAMENT. MORE THAN 75 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS FELT THAT CONTROLS ON THE SALE AND/OR USE OF FIREARMS WOULD HELP CURB GUN-RELATED CRIME AND ACCIDENTS. THE SUBJECT OF GUN CONTROL APPARENTLY IS OF TOPICAL INTEREST AMONG CANADIANS, WITH 6 OUT OF 10 RESPONDENTS NOTING THAT THEY HAD DISCUSSED THE SUBJECT WITH OTHERS. SUPPORTING DATA AND A COPY OF THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT ARE INCLUDED. --IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH. (LKM)