Knowledge of gun ownership can help police be prepared
Monday November 11, 2002 Roderick Benns
Stephen Lewis spoke at the recent Peaceful Communities forum and delivered his top points for creating a peaceful community. Roderick Benns and Michelle Strutzenberger investigate those topics further through a multi-faceted series on each point. Today, we conclude our look at gun control.

The scenario goes something like this.
Police are called to a domestic scene. Prior to leaving for the call, they check the database to see if there is a registered gun in the house. If there is, more caution is exercised. If the weapon turns out to be used inappropriately, such as in a threatening manner, then they may be prohibited from owning a gun for a very long time.

This is just one of the key reasons why Peterborough City Police like the two-year old gun registry which has been embraced by some, tolerated by others and reviled by a vocal percentage.

Peterborough Police Chief Terry McLaren acknowledges that this domestic scenario and others like it do not stop the hardcore element of criminals.

"In a break-in, often smuggled guns are the problem," says the chief.

"Now, you can't possess a firearm without a license, so it also creates another offence for those law-breakers," he adds.

Chief McLaren says if they are going to a domestic, though, and there is a registered gun involved, they can assess the situation far more clearly.

"Do we seize it? Is the propensity there for it to be used? Registration is another tool for us," says the chief.

When asked about why guns should be singled out for control, considering the number of other things out there that could be weapons, the chief was clear.

"A gun is meant to hurt. The intent of a gun is to discharge a bullet into something or someone. A knife could be used to spread butter on your toast. That's the difference," says Chief McLaren.

Lynn Zimmer, executive director of the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton, says Stephen Lewis had it right when he said "no guns" as part of his top ten points for a peaceful community.

"He tried to acknowledge that certain people depend on guns for food, but for the rest of us that doesn't leave room for guns. They have no good purpose," says Zimmer.

As for gun registration, Zimmer says that if there cannot be a society at this point with no guns, then the registration is certainly something she supports.

"None of us knows who is law-abiding and who isn't until something happens. From a YWCA point of view, the concern about the safety of women and children in incidences of domestic violence is the key reason. They would be safest if this were a society without guns," she says.

Zimmer also points out that people can also still become careless with guns, even if there are laws regarding proper storage.

Zimmer says that it is interesting that in the community survey which was highlighted at the peaceful communities forum, respondents from both the city and county were asked about whether or not they saw a gun as a sign of protection.

"And the results showed not only was this not the case, but that there wasn't much of a difference between city and county residents," says Zimmer.

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