Surprisingly enough, .
nationwide surveys in both Canada and the United States "show.
remarkable similarity in the public attitude towards firearms and gun .
control"(586). Both Canada and the United States were originally .
English colonies, and both have historically had similar patterns of .
immigration. Moreover, Canadians are exposed to American television .
(both entertainment and news programming) and, Canadians and Americans .
read many of the same books and magazines. As a result of this, the .
Canadian public has adopted "much of the American culture" .
In an article by Catherine F. Sproule and Deborah J. Kennett .
of Trent University, they looked at the use of firearms in Canadian .
homicides between the years of 1972-1982. There findings firmly .
support the conclusion that gun control is beneficial. According to .
Sproule and Kennett, gun control "may be influencing some suspects to .
kill by other methods, but it is less likely for these suspects to .
kill multiple victims". From the study conducted by Sproule and .
Kennett the rate of violent crimes was five times greater in the U.S .
than Canada, and "almost double the rate of firearm use in American .
than Canadian homicides" (32-33). In short, the use of firearms "in .
Canadian homicides has declined since the legislative changes in gun.
control in 1977".
As mentioned in lectures, Canadian cities have been .
traditionally safer, and less vulnerable to 'Crime Waves' than our .
American neighbours due to our extensive police force and gun control .
laws . A factor to be considered, though, is our national heritage.
or culture which holds traditions of passiveness and peace unlike the .
American Frontier heritage. From our textbook, Why Nothing Works, .
Marvin Harris points out that the "American Constitution guarantees .
citizens the right to bear arms, and this has made it possible for .
U.S. criminals to obtain firearms more readily than their counterparts .
