Sifting fact from fiction over guns

We are inundated daily with the words, sights and sounds describing the United States’ tragic gun experiences. Criminal violence aside, hurtful tragedies in America are perpetrated by the mentally ill or those motivated by racial, religious or political hatred.

Canada is different. Why? Socioeconomic factors, better health care and the extensive training and criminal background checks every

Canadian undergoes before being granted a firearms licence. Statistics show mass shootings in Canada are extremely rare and our real problem is criminals killing other criminals.

Banning a large number of previously legal firearms will have no impact as we grapple with how to keep guns out of the hands of those bent on doing evil. Facts should inform firearms crime debate in Canada, not emotions. Laurence Johnson, Calgary