Control issues: The stark differences between U.S. and Canadian gun laws
Speaking off-script at an event in Halifax Wednesday morning, Canada's minister of public safety said he was gutted by the latest mass shooting south of the border -- the 27th in a U.S. school this year alone.
"There are no words," said Marco Mendicino, responding to news a gunman had shot and killed at least 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
"I think it's also an incredible reminder that we still have a lot of work to do ourselves here in Canada," he said.
"We're not immune from the kind of gun violence that, sadly, has afflicted many communities here, and it's not just about writing responsible and common-sense laws. It's not just about investing more in law enforcement so we can protect our borders and make sure our communities are well policed and well resourced. It's about stopping crime from occurring in the first place, isn't it?"
It's a fact Maritimers know perhaps even better than other Canadians, as a public inquiry into Nova Scotia's mass shooting continues its work in finding answers into what happened in April 2020.
Still, controversy continues to follow the Mass Casualty Commission.
Even in previous years, Maritimers witnessed shocking acts of multiple people being gunned-down in a hail of bullets, including Moncton in June 2014 and Fredericton in August 2018.
The Texas shooting -- on the heels of another in Buffalo -- has reignited a long-standing debate on gun control in the U.S. and sparked inevitable questions about whether Canadians are doing enough on this side of the border.
"It was an awful tragedy. I felt sick to my stomach," gun shop owner Ross Faulkner told CTV News Wednesday.
After nearly half-a-century in the gun business, Faulkner has seen plenty of change in firearms regulations over the years, notably in the last 20 years.
He insists Canada has some of the strictest laws anywhere, starting with registration and licensing.
"An everyday person cannot come into my establishment and buy a firearm. What's required is that you need to obtain a firearms licence," he said, adding that requires passing a three-day course and then undergoing background checks after applying for a licence.
He says authorities often turn down applicants if the checks reveal problematic behaviour, and the paperwork can be revoked just as quickly.
Although many Canadians tend to see more similarities than differences with their American neighbours, there's also some fundamentals of law that have shaped the way they think.
"There's no equivalent at all to the 'Right to Bear Arms,'" says Wayne MacKay, a constitutional expert and Dalhousie University professor emeritus of law.
"In fact, even property is not directly protected in our constitution. So, it's not part of our way of thinking about our identity, or thinking about our individuality."
And now, as Americans once again grieve and look for answers, Canadians can only offer support, while struggling to find the words.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.