Showing papers in "Journal on firearms and public policy in 2001"

Abstract: The gun control debate is carried out at two levels: (1) the overt debate over whatever moderate regulatory control is currently being considered, and (2) the subterranean or background debate over prohibition measures that are not even under formal consideration. To stop the overt debate from being distorted by the subterranean debate, prominent gun control organizations claiming to support only moderate "commonsense" measures will have to formally, and convincingly, commit themselves to permanent opposition to any future "control" measures that would disarm most of the American population.

Abstract: Universal firearm registration and owner licensing sounds reasonable to many people. Unfortunately, a number of practical problems have emerged in the past few years since the federal government has begun to implement it. First, costs are escalating, second, firearm registration violates basic principles of policing, and third, public support appears to be evaporating for registering firearms. This is not just a problem in fiscal mismanagement; firearm registration is another step along a slippery slope that could damage individual freedom for all Canadians. This article will examine the disturbing increase in police power that existing gun legislation has already created.