Letters: More gun laws are not the answer to tragic shootings

The suspect runs past a bystander and toward police during a deadly shooting incident in Montreal on June 22, 2026, that claimed the lives of a police officer, an innocent bystander and the suspect, and left another police officer wounded. Photo by Screenshot/XArticle content‘Canadians have heard this before’Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentRe: Montreal mayor calls for stricter gun control in wake of deadly shootings — Chris Lambie, June 23Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentWithin hours of the tragic June 22 shootings in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada was calling for stricter gun laws.

Article contentCanadians have heard this before.Article contentAfter the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989, Canada strengthened its firearms laws. After the subsequent shootings at Concordia University and Dawson College, we heard renewed calls for more restrictions.

Yet decades later, despite some of the strictest firearms laws in the democratic world, a Montreal police officer is dead, having made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the public, and an innocent bystander has lost his life.Article contentArticle contentLaw-abiding firearms owners are licensed, vetted, trained, screened, regulated and monitored. Every new restriction is followed by people who obey the law.

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Browse here.Article contentCriminals do not obey the law. That is the flaw in the mayor’s argument.

Article contentThe gang member carrying an illegal firearm does not care about another regulation. The violent extremist does not care about another prohibition. The individual prepared to murder innocent people or kill a police officer is not concerned with complying with firearms legislation.

Article contentEvery new restriction falls on those who follow the law, not those who break it.Article contentBefore demanding more legislation, perhaps we should ask a simple question: Would another restriction on a licensed firearms owner have prevented the Montreal tragedy?Article contentIf the answer is no, then our efforts should be focused on illegal firearms trafficking, organized crime, violent extremism, and giving police the tools they need to protect our communities.

Article contentThe best way to honour the fallen officer and the innocent victim is not to repeat the same political response after every tragedy. It is to focus on the people responsible for the violence and support the officers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe.Article contentArticle contentMatthew Poplaw, Hampstead, Que.

Article contentRead More Letters: Social media literacy would serve youth better than bans Letters: Judges are only human. Even the Chief Justice Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentArticle contentAntisemitism ‘should concern every Canadian’Article contentRe: Leading non-Jewish Canadians publish open letter — Ari David Blaff, June 27Article contentI am a 74-year-old immigrant and proud Canadian citizen who has also maintained strong ties to my birthplace, Greece.

Throughout my life in Canada, I have lived, worked, and studied alongside people from many different backgrounds, cultures and religions. I have always tried to treat others with respect, and in return I have generally been treated with respect as well.Article contentIn recent years, however, I have become increasingly concerned about the rise of hatred and intolerance, particularly toward Jewish people.

This concern became especially strong during a recent one-month visit to Greece. When I returned to Canada, I considered writing this letter but hesitated. Then I read a news article describing parents attending a year-end event at a Greek elementary school, expecting to celebrate their children’s achievements, only to be confronted and led by the teachers in political demonstrations, Palestinian flags, and anti-Jewish slogans.

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