Gun Crimes Surge in Canada as Guns Are Banned

In Canada, despite stringent gun control measures and a recent national handgun freeze, firearm-related crime continues to surge, highlighting potential gaps in the current strategy, particularly around handguns and the illegal gun market from the U.S., as reported by the Toronto Star and Breitbart.

In 2022, police-reported crime statistics from Statistics Canada indicated a 10 percent increase in gun-related crime from the previous year, with a total of 9,198 victims. This rate was also 60 percent higher compared to 2013. Handguns were the weapon of choice in 63 percent of gun-related homicides.

The federal government has taken several steps to curb this violence, including expanding background checks, banning 1,500 models of assault weapons, and imposing a national handgun freeze, which prohibits the sale, purchase, or transfer of handguns within Canada. Additionally, $250 million has been allocated to address the root causes of gun and gang violence.