Reality Check

September 9, 2008

Harper doesn’t believe in exploiting tragedy – unless he’s the one doing the exploiting

ISSUE:

Stephen Harper still won’t take serious steps to address gun violence in Canada.

HARPER:

  • Stephen Harper said yesterday, somehow with a straight face, "I don't think you ever want to be seen as exploiting particular tragedies.”

REALITY:

  • On December 30, 2005, just four days after Jane Creba was murdered in a Boxing Day shooting in downtown Toronto, Stephen Harper published an op-ed in the National Post that exploited a tragedy fresh in the minds of Canadians.

HARPER:

  • Stephen Harper said yesterday: "I don't think by registering every shotgun or long gun or by having further restrictions on weapons you're going to deal with gun crime. I think it's gun crime you have to deal with. Not some duck hunter with a shotgun."

REALITY:

  • Banning military assault weapons does not affect hunters, a point that was made repeatedly yesterday by Mr. Dion. That’s why Mr. Dion himself said yesterday: “Military assault weapons have no connection to hunting or sport shooting, and serve absolutely no purpose in our society. No one outside of the military needs these weapons and we would all be safer without them in Canada.”

  • By distorting Mr. Dion’s comments, Stephen Harper proves he just doesn’t get it when it comes to keeping Canadians safe from gun violence.

  • And to be clear, the Liberal Party of Canada would like to point out to Mr. Harper that no real hunter goes duck hunting with an anti-personnel rifle.

HARPER:

  • Mr. Harper said yesterday: "This (Conservative) party has increased screening requirements for the purchase of all weapons and the fact of the matter is handguns and many weapons are in fact very difficult to own legally in this country."

REALITY:

  • Kimveer Gill, whose shooting rampage at Dawson College left one young woman dead, and 19 others injured, legally owned and obtained the weapon he used to perpetrate this tragedy.