Dear Senators, I’ve been following the Bill C-21 in Senate SECD meetings, listening to witness testimony, and questions introduced by the Senators. I felt it necessary to write and provide information to help address a particular comment where one of the Senators stated that in cases of domestic violence, women are threatened by guns and as such this Senator implied that a decision on C-21 is a matter of someone’s “hobby” vs threats against women’s lives.

Here is a report from Statistics Canada that I trust you will carefully consider: Spousal violence in Canada, 2019: by Shana Conroy, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics (Release date: October 6, 2021). I could not find more recent statistics from Stats Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00016-eng.htm https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00016/tbl/tbl06-eng.htm Please reference Chart and Table 6 (Victims of spousal violence in the past five years, by gender of victim and incident characteristic, Canada, 2019).

These are cumulative percentages of victims over the 5-year period. - Of all the forms of physical spousal violence, threatening to use a knife or a gun was the lowest percentage of victims over the 5-year period - Interestingly, a higher percentage of men (12.1%) experienced threats from their spouse using a knife or gun, compared to women (4.9%) - By far the highest percentage of violence against spouses (both men and women) over 5 years was: Pushing, grabbing, shoving (63.9%); Threatening to hit with fist (53.4%); Throwing something that could hurt (46.5%); Kicking, biting, hitting (27.4%); Slapping (24.8%); Hitting with something that could hurt (21%); Sexual assault (13.1%); Beating (11.4%); Choking (9.8%); and Threatening to use or using a gun or knife (7.7%) - The statistics do not breakdown if a knife or a gun was the primary device used in the 7.7% of victims.

A knife is more readily available in cases of domestic violence. Very severe laws are already in place to govern unlawful gun use. The statistics also do not indicate if the guns used were licensed or unlicensed illegal guns. - Laws are also in place to discourage and prosecute all forms of spousal violence, yet this form of violence continues - Bill C-21 will not in any way remove guns from spousal violence. Existing laws can and are used to remove guns used illegally by spouses committing violence and other illegal use.

It is astonishing how this very critical fact is not readily understood – this realization is pivotal and in my opinion the crux to the Bill C-21 debate (more laws will not reduce violence – more severe and consequential penalties might – solving the root cause of violence and providing avenues to social intervention are solutions aligned with success over new laws).

The stereotyping of firearms use as a hobby is an embarrassing over-simplification and an injustice unbecoming of the honourable position of Senator: - There are 2.3 million legal law abiding RCMP vetted gun owners in Canada (there are only 0.6 million Canadians who play league hockey in Canada for reference) - There are firearms stores and RCMP approved shooting ranges in Canada contributing over $9 billion to the Canadian economy - There are indigenous peoples, hunters, trappers, farmers, explorers, backcountry users, wilderness guides, conservation officers, and sportsmen who responsibly use and require firearms - There are communities, leagues, families, friendships, partners brought together by a common passion formed around the safe, legal and justifiable use of firearms.

These are your neighbours, your family members, they are not gangs or criminals. As Senators you have an important responsibility to put aside bias and perhaps even your dislike of firearms to defend the charter of rights and freedoms for Canadians – including the 2.3 million firearms owners. In Canada we defend the rights of the minorities and firearms owner are a minority experiencing malicious prejudice from a divisive Federal government who do not represent a majority of Canadians. You have heard one witness after another, including law enforcement and chiefs of police who know the facts.

All of them have explained to you that Bill C-21 will do little to nothing to curb gun violence in Canada. Those who break the law will do so no matter what additional laws are passed. It is apathetic and dishonest to not pursue root cause, address the real problems in society, and take the higher road to solution over political posture. Canadians who understand Bill C-21 urge you to not allow this deeply flawed bill to pass into law. Sincerely Ernest DeCol