Former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, novelist Margaret Atwood, among prominent Canadian writers calling on party leaders to endorse a ban on assault weapons and handguns Signatories to letter support campaign of Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns and denounce gun lobby rhetoric
Toronto, October 9, 2019 – Canadian authors Margaret Atwood, Charlotte Gray, Michael Ondaatje, and Dr. Vincent Lam, as well as former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson are among the signatories of an open letter to party leaders being released today backing Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns’ campaign for a ban on assault weapons and handguns. With the federal election less than two weeks away, the intervention of nearly 20 prominent writers adds to a growing public demand for Canada’s next government to stand up to the gun lobby and implement significant new gun control measures.
From the letter, the full text of which can be found below:
“When it comes to creating public policy on guns, governments must weigh private privilege and industry profit against the far greater importance of public health and community well-being....Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns is calling for a ban on assault weapons and handguns as part of a comprehensive legal and social policy approach to addressing the public health impacts of guns. The signatories of this letter support their call to action. We ask you to join us and commit to moving quickly on the doctors’ recommendations, including the ban.”
Members of Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns see the increasing devastation caused by guns on our patients; our communities suffer the impacts for years; and our public health care system bears the weight of preventable harm. The organization has called for a comprehensive public policy response, including addressing social determinants, reducing the illegal sale of guns and the importation of firearms from other jurisdictions, and measures to restrict access to guns.
A wide body of evidence supports the position of Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns, as demonstrated by a thorough reference list with more than 150 citations of international scientific literature, peer-reviewed research papers, and publications from leading medical journals, available on our website.
“The evidence is incontrovertible: restricting access to guns will make our communities safer,” said Dr, Najma Ahmed, trauma surgeon and co-founder of Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns. “We are thrilled to have the support of so many acclaimed Canadian writers in our campaign for stronger gun control policy.”
The letter comes one week after the launch of a national, pro bono advertising campaign to warn Canadians that the proliferation of assault weapons and handguns represents a public health threat – www.notbulletproof.ca/ www.paspareballes.ca. Over the past 15 years the number of such weapons in Canada has grown dramatically and it Is now time for political leaders to act.
About Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns 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. For more information please visit www.canadiandoctorsforprotectionfromguns.ca.
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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
The Canadian Way – Saying yes to Doctors’ call for a ban on assault weapons and handguns
Dear Justin Trudeau, Andrew Scheer, Jagmeet Singh, Elizabeth May, Yves-François Blanchet:
Canada is a country of reason and civility, peace and the common good.
When it comes to creating public policy on guns, governments must weigh private privilege and industry profit against the far greater importance of public health and community well-being.
Physicians with Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns have witnessed firsthand the devastating physical and emotional trauma wrought by guns, from gender-based violence to suicide, homicide to accidental shootings of children. One of its founders, trauma surgeon Dr. Najma Ahmed, was on call the night of the mass shooting in the Danforth neighbourhood of Toronto.
The physicians point to a wide body of international research that makes three things very clear. 1. Death and injury by guns is a preventable public health issue. 2. Countries and jurisdictions with stronger gun laws have less gun injury and death. 3. Canada does not fare well compared to our peer nations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development on proliferation of guns and firearm mortality.
Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns is calling for a ban on assault weapons and handguns as part of a comprehensive legal and social policy approach to addressing the public health impacts of guns. The signatories of this letter support their call to action. We ask you to join us and commit to moving quickly on the doctors’ recommendations, including the ban.
Since launching their campaign, Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns has been endorsed by more than a dozen prominent medical associations and women’s organizations and supported by doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other health professionals from across the country.
Yet the campaign has also drawn the vitriolic ire of Canadian gun lobby groups who have engaged in online campaigns of harassment, launched frivolous complaints to the country’s largest professional regulatory college, and released a disturbing video warning that doctors will “own” responsibility for children being shot and killed if a handgun and assault weapons ban is implemented. On April 12th, the CEO of one of the groups compared a gun control advocate working with the doctors to lead Nazi propogandist Joseph Goebbels.
This is the discourse and tactics of the National Rifle Association in the United States. We have seen where that path can lead. Our history, culture, and politics are very different in Canada, yet we cannot be complacent. Our leaders must clearly state the gun lobby approach is not welcome here.
We need a made in Canada solution to gun policy. The security and well-being of our families and communities depend on it. Support a ban on handguns and assault weapons.
Sincerely,
Signatures
Angie Abdou Margaret Atwood Dennis Bock Cathy Buchanan Adrienne Clarkson Andrew Davidson Graeme Gibson Don Gillmor Charlotte Gray Rawi Hage Elizabeth Hay Vincent Lam Linden McIntyre Michael Ondaatje Michael Redhill Linda Spalding. Madeleine Thien Alissa York
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