“In Canada, gun ownership is a privilege, not a right,” said Bill Blair, Canada’s minister of emergency preparedness, before referring to the U.S.:
“This is a principle that differentiates ourselves from many other countries in the world, notably our colleagues and friends to the south. In Canada, guns are only intended to be used for hunting and sport purposes.”
This may be true as a matter of positive law. Canada has gone much further in banning guns than has the United States. Gun confiscation isn’t far off. It’s the logical conclusion of the idea that all deaths attributable to guns are preventable, and any law or right preventing it is illegitimate.
But the notion that firearm ownership is a “privilege and not a right” for Canadians, as opposed to Americans, is incorrect. It is a right, just not one protected by the Canadian government. That’s an important distinction.
