nationalpost.com
Open in
urlscan Pro
34.107.199.243
Public Scan
URL:
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/chris-selley-liberals-add-even-more-gun-ban-incoherence-by-getting-gender-involved
Submission: On February 02 via api from CA — Scanned from CA
Submission: On February 02 via api from CA — Scanned from CA
Form analysis 3 forms found in the DOM
GET /search/
<form action="/search/" class="top-menu-search__form top-menu-search__form--hidden" data-evt="focusin" data-evt-typ="form_interaction"
data-evt-val="{"form_name": "Search", "control_fields": {"mparticle": {"keys": {"form_name": "form_name"}, "mp_event_type": "Other"}}}"
id="top-menu-search__form" method="get"> <label class="visually-hidden" for="id_search_text">Search nationalpost.com</label>
<div class="search-form form__group"> <input class="form__control" id="id_search_text" name="search_text" placeholder="Search " required="" type="text" value=""> <button class="button button--primary button--icon top-menu-search__form-submit"
type="submit"> <span aria-hidden="true" class="button__icon"> <svg height="16" viewBox="0 0 32 32" with="16">
<path
d="M 12 1 C 5.9418624 1 1 5.9418624 1 12 C 1 18.058138 5.9418624 23 12 23 C 14.250876 23 16.345333 22.314679 18.091797 21.146484 L 27.939453 30.994141 A 2.0002 2.0002 0 1 0 30.767578 28.166016 L 20.957031 18.355469 C 22.23773 16.557441 23 14.367054 23 12 C 23 5.9418624 18.058138 1 12 1 z M 12 3.8691406 C 16.507309 3.8691406 20.130859 7.4926906 20.130859 12 C 20.130859 16.507309 16.507309 20.130859 12 20.130859 C 7.4926906 20.130859 3.8691406 16.507309 3.8691406 12 C 3.8691406 7.4926906 7.4926906 3.8691406 12 3.8691406 z">
</path>
</svg> </span> <span class="button__text visually-hidden">Perform search</span> </button> </div>
</form>GET /search/
<form action="/search/" class="search-form--lg" data-evt="focusin" data-evt-typ="form_interaction"
data-evt-val="{"form_name": "Search", "control_fields": {"mparticle": {"keys": {"form_name": "form_name"}, "mp_event_type": "Other"}}}" method="get"> <label
class="visually-hidden" for="id_search_text_top">Search nationalpost.com</label>
<div class="search-form form__group"> <input class="form__control" id="id_search_text_top" name="search_text" placeholder="Search nationalpost.com" required="" type="text" value=""> <button
class="button button--primary button--icon top-menu-search__form-submit" type="submit"> <span aria-hidden="true" class="button__icon"> <svg height="16" viewBox="0 0 32 32" with="16">
<path
d="M 12 1 C 5.9418624 1 1 5.9418624 1 12 C 1 18.058138 5.9418624 23 12 23 C 14.250876 23 16.345333 22.314679 18.091797 21.146484 L 27.939453 30.994141 A 2.0002 2.0002 0 1 0 30.767578 28.166016 L 20.957031 18.355469 C 22.23773 16.557441 23 14.367054 23 12 C 23 5.9418624 18.058138 1 12 1 z M 12 3.8691406 C 16.507309 3.8691406 20.130859 7.4926906 20.130859 12 C 20.130859 16.507309 16.507309 20.130859 12 20.130859 C 7.4926906 20.130859 3.8691406 16.507309 3.8691406 12 C 3.8691406 7.4926906 7.4926906 3.8691406 12 3.8691406 z">
</path>
</svg> </span> <span class="button__text visually-hidden">Perform search</span> </button> </div>
</form>#
<form action="#" aria-describedby="submitErrorNP_HeadlineNews submitSuccessNP_HeadlineNews" class="js-newsletter-form form-container" data-evt="focusin" data-evt-typ="form_interaction"
data-evt-val="{"form_name": "Newsletter", "control_fields": {"mparticle": {"keys": {"form_name": "form_name"}, "mp_event_type": "Other"}}}" novalidate="">
<div class="form-container__field js-newsletter-email__field"> <label class="form__label" for="emailNP_HeadlineNews"> Email Address </label> <input aria-describedby="emailErrorNP_HeadlineNews" aria-invalid="false" aria-required="true"
autocomplete="email" class="form__control js-newsletter-email" id="emailNP_HeadlineNews" name="newsletterEmailNP_HeadlineNews" placeholder="youremail@email.com" required="" type="email">
<div class="form-container__message--error js-invalid-email" hidden="" id="emailErrorNP_HeadlineNews">
<ul class="errorlist">
<li> There was an error, please provide a valid email address. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div> <button class="button button--primary" type="submit">Sign Up</button>
</form>Text Content
Skip to Content
Sign Up
The NP Posted newsletter keeps you updated on the latest news and unique
perspectives NP Posted keeps you updated on the latest news and unique
perspectives Subscribe now.>
Manage Print Subscription/Tax Receipt
Sections
Search
Search nationalpost.com
Perform search
National Post
Share
SHARE THIS STORY: CHRIS SELLEY: LIBERALS ADD EVEN MORE GUN 'BAN' INCOHERENCE BY
GETTING GENDER INVOLVED
* Copy Link
* Email
* Facebook
* Twitter
* Reddit
* Pinterest
* LinkedIn
* Tumblr
Subscribe
Sign In
User My Account Toggle menu Close menu
Account Menu
* Profile
* Manage My Subscriptions
* Newsletters & Alerts
* Settings
* Customer Service
* FAQ
* Sign Out
Main Menu
Search nationalpost.com
Perform search
* News
* National
* World
* PostPandemic
* Coronavirus
* Heroes of the Pandemic
* Object Lessons of a Pandemic
* Trade
* Posted Newsletter
* Archives
* Mortgages
* Contact the Newsroom
* Olympics
* NP Comment
* Politics
* Post Picks
* More
* Life
* Shopping Essentials
* Business Essentials
* Play for Ontario
* Horoscopes
* Health
* Homes
* Eating & Drinking
* Style
* Parenting
* Travel
* MoneyWise Canada
* Puzzles
* Comics
* Advice
* New York Times Crossword
* Culture
* Books
* Celebrity
* Movies
* Music
* Theatre
* Television
* Sports
* Sports Betting
* NHL
* Baseball
* Basketball
* Football
* Soccer
* Golf
* Golf Videos
* Tennis
* The GrowthOp
* Obituaries
* Place an Obituary
* Place an In Memoriam
* Classifieds
* Place an Ad
* Celebrations
* Shopping
* This Week's Flyers
* Working
* Financial Post
* Healthing
* Driving
* The GrowthOp
* NYT Crossword
* Videos
* Podcasts
* Newsletters
* E-Paper
* Subscribe
* FAQ
* My Account
* News
* Olympics
* NP Comment
* Politics
* Post Picks
* Financial Post
* Healthing
* Driving
* The GrowthOp
* NYT Crossword
* Videos
* Podcasts
* Newsletters
* E-Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
The Portable Heater That Has Taken The World By Storm
Revolutionary portable heater quickly heats up any room using 30% less energy
than regular heaters, and fits in your bag so you can take it anywhere!
Ad By Alpha Heater
See More
AdChoices
*
*
*
*
* SHARE THIS STORY: CHRIS SELLEY: LIBERALS ADD EVEN MORE GUN 'BAN' INCOHERENCE
BY GETTING GENDER INVOLVED
* Copy Link
* Email
* Facebook
* Twitter
* Reddit
* Pinterest
* LinkedIn
* Tumblr
BREADCRUMB TRAIL LINKS
1. Full Comment
CHRIS SELLEY: LIBERALS ADD EVEN MORE GUN 'BAN' INCOHERENCE BY GETTING GENDER
INVOLVED
Trudeau's claim that the ban on 'military-style' rifles is about protecting
women and girls only raises more unanswerable questions
Author of the article:
Chris Selley
Publishing date:
May 08, 2020 • May 8, 2020 • 4 minute read • 233 Comments
As for Canada’s history of mass murderers, while several were seething
misogynists, the victims are far from monolithically women. Photo by Andrew
Vaughan/The Canadian Press/File
ARTICLE CONTENT
In a recent column , I questioned whether the Liberals’ new “ban” on certain
kinds of semiautomatic rifles — “ban” in quotation marks, inasmuch as current
owners can keep them — constituted the sort of good public-health policy we’re
demanding nowadays in the face of COVID-19. I concluded it did not. Even if you
support the idea of banning such weapons, you can’t really support this
endeavour except in the way a starving man might welcome his least favourite
meal. Indeed, gun control advocates are nearly as annoyed by it as gun rights
advocates, and rightly so.
ADVERTISEMENT
Story continues below
ARTICLE CONTENT
The Liberal “ban” targets certain semiautomatic rifles falling under the
undefined term “military-style,” while leaving other semi-automatics alone. It
focuses on rifles, which collectively are the least lethal form of previously
legal weapons, while leaving handguns — which are used in 65 per cent of firearm
homicides — alone. “You don’t need an AR-15 to bring down a deer,” Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau says, yet the “ban” exempts current owners of these
weapons who use them to hunt for the purposes of sustenance.” Upon its
unveiling, it was very nearly perfectly incoherent. And it’s nearer still now.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
CHRIS SELLEY: LIBERALS ADD EVEN MORE GUN 'BAN' INCOHERENCE BY GETTING GENDER
INVOLVED BACK TO VIDEO
In recent days the Liberals have touted the “ban” as a way of protecting women
and girls in particular. “These guns make it easier to commit mass murder,”
Trudeau added. “And the culture around their fetishization makes our country
inherently more dangerous for the people most vulnerable. And that is women and
girls.” Trudeau cited reports about increasing domestic violence during the
pandemic, and grim statistics about the number of Canadians killed by their
spouses.
ADVERTISEMENT
Story continues below
ARTICLE CONTENT
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
1. 'INCOHERENT' LIBERAL FIREARM BAN EXCLUDES SEVERAL SEMI-AUTOMATICS,
POTENTIALLY OUTLAWS BIG-GAME HUNTING RIFLES
2. MATT GURNEY: THE LIBERALS' USELESS 'ASSAULT WEAPONS' BAN
3. CHRIS SELLEY: IF LIBERALS TREATED GUN CONTROL LIKE CORONAVIRUS, THEY
WOULDN'T HASSLE HUNTERS AND FARMERS
There is very little evidence to support this case for the “ban.” And when you
go looking for it, you wind up only with more questions.
To be fair, there is very little evidence to support any position on gun
control. Nobody comprehensively keeps track of how many Canadians are killed
using currently restricted weapons, or by the weapons the Liberals are
“banning,” or even by rifles as opposed to shotguns — so we certainly don’t know
how many men and women are killed by these various kinds of firearms.
ADVERTISEMENT
Story continues below
ARTICLE CONTENT
We can probably figure out how many men and women are killed using the
categories of weapons into which Statistics Canada sorts them: handguns, rifles
and shotguns combined, fully automatic weapons and other firearms. But a
spokesperson says the agency is currently operating under “an emergency
framework” due to the pandemic, and is unable to perform such custom
tabulations. According to Statistics Canada’s public data, between 2014 and
2018, 68 per cent of the 2,576 Canadians murdered using all sorts of guns
combined were male, so it seems unlikely that a more detailed analysis by type
of firearm would lead to the conclusion that women are disproportionately
victims of any kind of gun violence the Liberals claim to be targeting.
ADVERTISEMENT
Story continues below
ARTICLE CONTENT
> Even if you just focused on spousal homicide, guns simply aren’t very commonly
> used in those crimes
It is true that for domestic violence, between 2008 and 2017, 19 per cent of
homicides were committed by the victim’s current or former spouse or intimate
partner, and roughly 80 per cent of those victims were female. Other domestic
relationships — parents, siblings, etc. — account for another 19 per cent of
homicides, but in those cases nearly 60 per cent of the victims were male.
Even if you just focused on spousal homicide, though, guns simply aren’t very
commonly used in those crimes. Between 1995 and 2009, according to data
Statistics Canada provided to Gary Mauser, an emeritus criminology professor at
Simon Fraser University, 28 per cent of spousal homicides with female victims
were committed using firearms. The majority of those were with long guns, but we
have no idea how many of those were “military style” and now “banned.” It’s
probably not very many. Meanwhile, eight per cent of those homicides were
committed with handguns, which the Liberals have no intention of banning at the
federal level!
ADVERTISEMENT
Story continues below
ARTICLE CONTENT
As for Canada’s history of mass murderers, while several were seething
misogynists, the victims are far from monolithically women. Nine of Gabriel
Wortman’s victims in Nova Scotia, which is clearly the impetus for the Liberals
finally acting on this file, were men. All six Muslim worshippers Alexandre
Bissonnette cut down at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City in 2017 were
men. (One wonders why the Liberals didn’t act on their campaign promise then.)
Psychotic Concordia University engineering professor Valery Fabrikant gunned
down four colleagues in 1992, all men.
“The culture around (gun) fetishization makes our country inherently more
dangerous for the people most vulnerable. And that is women and girls,” Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau said recently. Photo by Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images
Fabrikant, incidentally, used three pistols. Faisal Hussain, who killed two
young women on Toronto’s Danforth Avenue in 2018, used a .40-calibre handgun.
Wortman and Bissonnette used handguns in addition to “military-style” rifles —
indeed, Bissonnette was licensed to own them and had them properly registered.
He might be the single best example a government ideologically committed to
ramping up gun control could cite: “See? Sometimes ‘law-abiding gun owners’ do
commit unspeakable acts. Licensing isn’t enough. We must prohibit their use
altogether.”
I wouldn’t find that a particularly convincing argument. But the fact they
aren’t even bothering with it, and are instead trying to sell this hot mess on
well-meaning gun owners and anti-gun advocates alike , says just about
everything you need to know about this profoundly unserious government and how
stupid they think we all are.
• Email: cselley@nationalpost.com | Twitter: cselley
SHARE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK
*
*
*
*
* SHARE THIS STORY: CHRIS SELLEY: LIBERALS ADD EVEN MORE GUN 'BAN' INCOHERENCE
BY GETTING GENDER INVOLVED
* Copy Link
* Email
* Facebook
* Twitter
* Reddit
* Pinterest
* LinkedIn
* Tumblr
ADVERTISEMENT
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
MOST COMMENTED
The following is a list of the most commented articles in the last 7 days.
Advertisement
A trending article titled "Updated: Erin O'Toole ousted as leader of the
Conservative Party, will stay on as MP" with 584 comments.
Updated: Erin O'Toole ousted as leader of the Conservat...
584 comments
A trending article titled "Carson Jerema: Erin O'Toole did everything he could
to lose the Conservative leadership" with 366 comments.
Carson Jerema: Erin O'Toole did everything he could to ...
366 comments
A trending article titled "Breakthrough in Alberta border blockade, with two
lanes allowed to open" with 1282 comments.
Breakthrough in Alberta border blockade, with two lanes...
1282 comments
A trending article titled "'Illegal activity will not be tolerated': Ottawa
police arrest three after demonstration-related investigations" with 377
comments.
'Illegal activity will not be tolerated': Ottawa police...
377 comments
A trending article titled "Raymond J. de Souza: Erin O'Toole's ouster frees
party of leader embarrassed by conservatism" with 183 comments.
Raymond J. de Souza: Erin O'Toole's ouster frees party ...
183 comments
SHOPPING ESSENTIALS
1. HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CUP OF TEA, ACCORDING TO CANADA’S TEA EXPERT
The correct water temperature, tea quantity and steep time to make the
perfect cup
1 hour ago Home Living
2. MAISON KITSUNÉ, CAFÉ KITSUNÉ SET UP SHOP IN VANCOUVER
Kitsuné CEO of Americas Vinod Kasturi sounds off on why Vancouver was the
perfect fit for the brand's first Canadian outpost.
3 hours ago Life
3. ADVERTISEMENT
Story continues below
4. THE IT LIST: BELOVED BVLGARI COLLECTION GETS A FEW NEW PIECES
Italian jewelry brand Bvlgari has added even more sparkle to its B.zero1
collection.
3 hours ago Fashion & Beauty
5. 19 BEST ONLINE DEALS IN THE CANADIAN RETAIL SPACE RIGHT NOW
Staples, The Bay and Lancôme, to name a few
5 hours ago Shopping Essentials
6. GEAR UP TO SUPPORT TEAM CANADA AS THEY COMPETE IN BEIJING
Some colourful ways to back our team
9 hours ago Shopping Essentials
NP POSTED
Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of
Postmedia Network Inc.
Email Address
* There was an error, please provide a valid email address.
Sign Up
By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter
from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the
unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor
Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
THANKS FOR SIGNING UP!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk
folder.
The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
TRENDING
1. THE LEADING CANDIDATES TO REPLACE ERIN O'TOOLE
2. HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE HINTING AT ENDING COVID RESTRICTIONS (AND NOT BECAUSE
OF THE TRUCKERS)
3. MICHAEL TAUBE: PIERRE POILIEVRE IS OBVIOUS CHOICE TO LEAD CONSERVATIVES
4. RAYMOND J. DE SOUZA: ERIN O'TOOLE'S OUSTER FREES PARTY OF LEADER EMBARRASSED
BY CONSERVATISM
5. UPDATED: ERIN O'TOOLE OUSTED AS LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY, WILL STAY
ON AS MP
THIS WEEK IN FLYERS
COMMENTS
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion
and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may
take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to
keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email
notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your
comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you
follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details
on how to adjust your email settings.
0
CATEGORIES
* News
* Olympics
* NP Comment
* Politics
* Post Picks
* Financial Post
* Healthing
* Driving
* The GrowthOp
* NYT Crossword
* Videos
* Podcasts
* Newsletters
* E-Paper
* Subscribe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECONDARY LINKS
MY ACCOUNT
* Subscriber Self-Serve
* ePaper
* Contact Us
ADVERTISE
* Advertise With Us
* Appointment Notice
* Content Works
* Partnerships
* Resources
CLASSIFIED
* Remembering
* Celebrating
* Classifieds Marketplace
* Careers
* FlyerCity
* Post a Classified ad
* Local Directory
SALES
* About Us
POSTMEDIA NETWORK
* Financial Post
* Regina Leader-Post
* Saskatoon StarPhoenix
* Windsor Star
* Ottawa Citizen
* Winnipeg Sun
* London Free Press
* Canada.com
* Canoe.com
* Driving.ca
* The Province
* Vancouver Sun
* Edmonton Journal
* Calgary Herald
* Montreal Gazette
* Toronto Sun
* Ottawa Sun
* Calgary Sun
* Edmonton Sun
Financial Post ❯
FOLLOW US
*
*
*
*
Give us some feedback!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4
© 2022 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.
BOTTOM LINKS
Privacy - Updated Terms
Copyright
Digital Ad Registry
Sitemap
Contact us
NOTICE FOR THE POSTMEDIA NETWORK
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and
allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to
use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
OK