For immediate release Health professionals, policy advocates, survivors of gun violence, and the Canadian Anti-Hate Network call on gun lobby to halt its dangerous rhetoric to ensure a safe election Groups urge all political leaders to denounce offensive comments
Toronto, October 20, 2019 – Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns (CDPG), the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, PolyRemembers/PolySeSouvient, Danforth Families for Safe Communities, and the Coalition for Gun Control are calling on Canadian gun lobby groups to stop its increasingly inflammatory rhetoric for the good of our democracy. The organizations are deeply concerned that reckless statements infused with violent imagery coming from gun industry and gun “rights” groups could pose a threat to ensuring a safe election day for all Canadians.
The latest vituperation was revealed in a recent statement by the Canadian Shooting Sports Association that asked: “What is an acceptable death toll for Trudeau’s Liberal Government?”, and “Minister Blair, how many Canadians are you willing to kill and injure in order to collect their guns?”
These comments follow similar troubling statements from the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights that claim doctors will “own” responsibility for children possibly being shot and killed by police officers, and are "stepping on the throats" of people who own guns and trying to "discriminate" and "hurt" them after hours; regularly disparage survivors of gun violence advocating for stronger laws as “grave dancers”, going as far as to accuse them of “supporting crime”; and have referred to a communications consultant as being “as bad a person as” Nazi propogandist Joseph Goebbels.
A security concern last week that forced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to wear a bulletproof vest – a concern dismissed as “theatre” by gun lobby leaders – underscores the serious consequences of a rhetoric of anger and division. In 2012, one person was killed and another injured at Quebec Premier Pauline Marois’ election night victory party (with a legal assault weapon).
The peaceful functioning of our democracy relies on a civil discourse. We believe these comments do not reflect the views of the large majority of Canadians who own a firearm. We urge all political leaders to demonstrate leadership in the closing hours of the campaign and denounce such reckless rhetoric.
-30- For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Christopher Holcroft Empower Consulting, for Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns 416-996-0767/ christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca
Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns (CDPG) is a grassroots organization concerned about the increasing public health impact of firearms. We represent physicians working in collaboration with nurses, paramedics, rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, researchers and other front-line health care professionals. We have all witnessed first-hand the emotional and physical trauma and devastation caused by guns. CDPG calls for a comprehensive public policy response to this crisis in our communities, including preventative tools to reduce gun use and their consequences on youth violence, domestic abuse, and suicide. Specifically, we call for the following short-term actions:
- A ban on handguns and assault weapons - Passage of Bill C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms
Through education and advocacy, CDPG looks forward to working with all Canadians to enact change. We invite you to join us.
Executive Team
Dr. Najma Ahmed – Trauma Surgery – Toronto Dr. Suzanne Beno - Pediatric and Emergency Medicine - Toronto Dr, Philip Berger – Family and Community Medicine – Toronto Dr. Andrew Beckett – Trauma Surgery – Montreal Dr. James Byrne - Trauma Surgery Fellow - Toronto Dr. Kevin Chan - Pediatric Medicine - Toronto Dr. Anna Dare - Global Surgery Fellow - Toronto Dr. Alan Drummond – Emergency Medicine – Perth, Ontario Dr. Chris Evans - Emergency Medicine - Kingston Dr. David Gomez – Trauma Surgery – Toronto Dr. Josh Ng-Kamstra - General Surgery - Calgary Dr. David Koff - Radiology - Hamilton Dr. John Kortbeek – Trauma Surgery – Calgary Dr. Jacinthe Lampron – Trauma Surgery – Ottawa Dr. Brett Mador - Trauma Surgery - Edmonton Dr. Julie Maggi – Psychiatry – Toronto Dr. Chethan Sathya - Pediatric Surgery Fellow - Chicago Dr. Derryck Smith - Psychiatry - Vancouver Dr. Murray Trusler - Indigenous Health - Retired Dr. Kirsten Weerdenburg - Pediatric Emergency Medicine - Halifax Dr. Lynn Wilson – Family and Community Medicine – Toronto