The program with the closest similarity to the Canadian gun registry described in CMAJ's editorial1 seems to be the registration of motor vehicles. This is a money-maker for provincial governments, not a drain on their coffers. Registry of vehicles does make it easy to charge drivers with misdemeanors, but criminals seldom use vehicles registered in their own names for serious crimes, and registration has done little to reduce the awful death toll on our roads. To prevent deaths from motor vehicle crashes we institute driver education courses and public service messages. The same principles apply for gun registration.
There have been no gun battles in the duck marshes or drive-by shootings in the woods. It would appear that the government has done a terrible job of diagnosing the problem. It's as if someone has come to the bureaucrats complaining of excruciating head pains, and they have prescribed an expensive new hat so that everyone can see what an effective job they are doing.
If, as medical practitioners, you can see no better way of using this billion dollars to save lives, then by all means cross your fingers and support the registry. However, from educated professionals I would expect a more serious examination of the situation and more enlightened solutions.
Kyle D.S. Berry Teacher Dawson Creek, BC
Reference
- 1.↵