WOMEN UNITE IN SUPPORT OF LONG-GUN REGISTRY

Women united across political parties and geography in Ottawa today at a media conference to show their support for Canada's long-gun registry before the vote on September 22. The conference was hosted by the Ad Hoc Coalition for Women's Equality and Human Rights representing women's groups from across the country  

Status of women critics for the three opposition parties - Anita Neville, Irene Mathyssen and Nicole Demers - stood with Canadian Labour Congress Executive Vice-President Barbara Byers -to send a strong message that abolishing the registry will put already vulnerable women at greater risk. 

"We know from the statistics that long guns are the guns used most often when women are murdered in domestic violence. Loss of the long-gun registry would put more women at risk. Police consult it consistently on domestic violence calls," said Claire Tremblay, National Coordinator of the Ad Hoc Coalition for Women's Equality and Human Rights.  

Women were united in their message- women will die if the registry is abolished. One woman is shot every six days on average in Canada - most during domestic violence. Police use the registry to prevent these deaths. A woman is 12 times more likely to die if her abuser has a gun. The registry fills in the blanks on gun ownership. Licensing tells police if an abuser is allowed to own guns. The registry tells police which guns and how many he owns. This gives police a much better chance of removing every gun an abuser has.  

Women united to call for stronger gun control after 14 women were singled out and massacred at Montreal's l'Ecole Polytechnique in 1989.  Violence against women "at the hands of a weapon" has dropped 40% since the registry was implemented. Now women's groups fear the gains they have made will be eroded if the registry is scrapped. 

The Ad Hoc Coalition for Women's Equality and Human Rights organized the media conference to ensure women's safety concerns are heard.   

"I am strongly in favour of licensing and the registry and as a long-gun owner and long-time former rural Saskatchewan resident I feel no one is listening to me," said Mavis Moore, Ad Hoc Coalition member and Vice-President of the National Council of Women of Canada.

For further information:

Claire Tremblay, National Coordinator of the Ad Hoc Coalition for Women's Equality and Human Rights on [phone] (x103) or [phone] or by email on: [email protected].