Why war on guns is unwinnable...
...Especially if it ignores poverty and racism
Racism, on this continent, is rooted in a want of economic freedom.
This economic deficiency is manifested through inadequate wages, a scarcity of affordable housing and quality childcare, and a host of other issues.
The lack of proper options, specifically a low minimum wage which does not allow a person to meet their basic needs, puts many people in a back-against-the-wall situation.
This is what leads youth, many of whom are visible minorities, to sell drugs or engage in other criminal activity in Canada. One would be hard-pressed to find a teenage drug dealer who would rather pursue a life of crime rather than attend a post-secondary institution.
But with tuition fees rising, and more jobs being created that provide little or no benefits, many economically marginalized people need to seriously examine criminal activity as a means to provide economic security.
This has been the case for many years in Ontario, and many analysts link it to the funding cuts under Mike Harris' Conservative government in the 1990s.
But in recent years, the issue of gun use among those attempting to make ends meet through illegal activities has sharply increased, especially in Toronto.
The increased availability of handguns in the city, accompanied by the increase in gun violence, has created a reactionary backlash.
This backlash, which began with the Boxing Day 2005 shooting of secondary school student Jane Creba, was taken to a new level a few weeks ago by Toronto mayor David Miller.
Taking his message to one of the new battleground of ideas, YouTube, Miller made an emotional appeal to all Canadians for support of his “call for a national handgun ban.”
Miller missed an opportunity to properly tackle the problems of gun violence, poverty, and racism in Canada.
Putting so much effort into the “banning of ownership of handguns in this country” does not address the root of the problem.
Miller wants to take a step back to when those with their backs against the wall struggled in an economically unjust system without the overwhelming use of handguns.
If the mayor gets his national handgun ban, the problems of high tuition fees, low living wages, and inadequate access to child care will still go unaddressed.
The fact that a disproportionate number of people of colour are seriously affected by these issues will still go unaddressed.
Miller has asked Canadians to answer his call for the banning of handguns. But the question remains, will he answer the call of economically disadvantaged Canadians to join their struggle for a more equal and less racist society?
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Racism, on this continent, is rooted in a want of economic freedom.
This economic deficiency is manifested through inadequate wages, a scarcity of affordable housing and quality childcare, and a host of other issues.
The lack of proper options, specifically a low minimum wage which does not allow a person to meet their basic needs, puts many people in a back-against-the-wall situation.
This is what leads youth, many of whom are visible minorities, to sell drugs or engage in other criminal activity in Canada. One would be hard-pressed to find a teenage drug dealer who would rather pursue a life of crime rather than attend a post-secondary institution.
But with tuition fees rising, and more jobs being created that provide little or no benefits, many economically marginalized people need to seriously examine criminal activity as a means to provide economic security.
This has been the case for many years in Ontario, and many analysts link it to the funding cuts under Mike Harris' Conservative government in the 1990s.
But in recent years, the issue of gun use among those attempting to make ends meet through illegal activities has sharply increased, especially in Toronto.
The increased availability of handguns in the city, accompanied by the increase in gun violence, has created a reactionary backlash.
This backlash, which began with the Boxing Day 2005 shooting of secondary school student Jane Creba, was taken to a new level a few weeks ago by Toronto mayor David Miller.
Taking his message to one of the new battleground of ideas, YouTube, Miller made an emotional appeal to all Canadians for support of his “call for a national handgun ban.”
Miller missed an opportunity to properly tackle the problems of gun violence, poverty, and racism in Canada.
Putting so much effort into the “banning of ownership of handguns in this country” does not address the root of the problem.
Miller wants to take a step back to when those with their backs against the wall struggled in an economically unjust system without the overwhelming use of handguns.
If the mayor gets his national handgun ban, the problems of high tuition fees, low living wages, and inadequate access to child care will still go unaddressed.
The fact that a disproportionate number of people of colour are seriously affected by these issues will still go unaddressed.
Miller has asked Canadians to answer his call for the banning of handguns. But the question remains, will he answer the call of economically disadvantaged Canadians to join their struggle for a more equal and less racist society?
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
