Blake Brown @RBlakeBrown Twitter profile

Pinned Tweet

Blake Brown

7 months

New: "A Legal History of the Regulation of Assault-Style Rifles in Canada" in the Dalhousie Law Journal. #cdnpoli #guncontrol #c21 #BillC21 Link:

22

5

18

Last Seen Profiles

@misa_misaxxx

@liseli_buse_345

@RaHHP_info

@Karol_Potas

@izayatijigirlie

@BeaverRadioNet

@lnsathletics

@AustinCindric

@lcswillems

@Sister_Doc

@ganesagi

@nonoo9999999

@AndoverNSfc

@LAinox_

@jiyurio_

@konkatuhayaku

@avtorresp

@imtennix

@itsbellorie

@Martorellibruna

@hamza_must94106

@mrgoatwashere

@MZanona

@liulianjingrua

@NV5_inc

@nishantaj

$🍉 Salem\Butterscotch 🎶🐰$

@melodi_bunniez

@RasecDivad7

@lunaabh

@CASCAmedanth

@lisautism

@nataliesallcido

@jaidiaaaa

@itspushpush

@kaitlynvincie

@wonbinjai

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Since 2017 men possessing SKS semi-automatic rifles have shot at least 11 police officers in Canada. The Liberal government's proposed amendments to Bill C-21 would prohibit this rifle. #cdnpoli #guncontrol #C21 #BillC21 1/

238

123

424

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ontario man arrested at last year’s Ottawa protest charged with 61 firearms offences, including 11 counts of possessing a firearm without a licence and illegally possessing 3,632 rounds of ammunition. See story in @TorontoStar by @aballinga #cdnpoli

Police tracked him down at the ‘Freedom Convoy.’ A year later, he’s still in jail on 50 gun charges

Mike Vukmanovic, 57, faces 50 firearms-related charges after police tracked him through his cellphone to last year’s protest occupation in downtown Ottawa.

www.thestar.com

74

123

255

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

The brothers who shot 6 police in a gunfight at a BC bank in 2022 planned to kill police. They were licensed gun owners armed with semi-auto SKS rifles who were angry about gun control. Liberals proposed banning the SKS with Bill #C21 amendments. #cdnpoli

Brothers, motivated by 'anti-authority beliefs,' staged Saanich bank robbery in effort to kill...

Police said Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie, both 22, had a goal to get into a shootout with police when they went into the Bank of Montreal branch in Saanich, B.C., last June.

www.cbc.ca

52

108

239

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

6 months

I had the honour of serving as an expert witness in this Federal Court case. The court dismissed claims that Ottawa lacked authority to enact the order-in-council that prohibited weapons such as the AR-15. (See decision: ) #cdnpoli

Federal Court dismisses applications against Trudeau's 2020 firearms ban

The Federal Court today dismissed a legal challenge to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's May 2020 regulations banning some 1,500 styles of firearms.

www.ctvnews.ca

71

82

238

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

I still see people saying the Liberal Party made up the term "assault-style rifle." That's silly. People have been using this term, among others (such as "military-style" firearm), to refer to guns like the AR-15 for decades. See ex. from 1989. #C21 #BillC21 #cdnpoli

83

80

190

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Conservatives are opposing new gun control legislation ( #BillC21 ). In 1991 Progressive Conservative Min of Justice @AKimCampbell passed significant gun controls. “Gun control works,” she said. “It is probably the oldest and most effective form of crime prevention law.” #cdnpoli

59

55

153

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

4 months

New federal gun control bill passed by large majority of Senate despite efforts of gun lobby groups to oppose the new law. #cdnpoli #guncontrol #BillC21 #C21

Senate of Canada

@SenateCA

4 months

Vote result on third reading of Bill #C21 : Yeas: 60 ✔️ Nays : 24 ❌ Abstentions : 0 #SenCA #CdnPoli

202

37

110

155

34

148

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

5 months

Conservative Senate leader @DonPlett defends his treatment of female senators by saying he was upset about delaying a bill supported by Conservatives. This is rich since he used every procedural tool to slow down the last gun control bill (C-71). #cdnpoli

Conservative senator from Manitoba apologizes for 'losing my cool' on Senate floor | CBC News

Conservative Sen. Don Plett apologized Thursday after two female senators accused him of physical intimidation and verbal harassment in the Senate chamber during debate on a carbon pricing bill...

www.cbc.ca

25

63

128

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

4 months

Today Parliament passed #BillC21 banning the sale or transfer of handguns. As I’ve explained in @ConversationCA , this kind of step is the latest in a long series of efforts to deal with handguns “Calls for stronger handgun laws in Canada have deep roots”

Calls for stronger handgun laws in Canada have deep roots

Calls to outlaw handguns in Canada are hardly knee-jerk proposals in response to violent incidents. Instead, they’re in line with the historic Canadian trend to limit the presence of modern pistols.

theconversation.com

280

38

123

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Today marks the third anniversary of the Nova Scotia mass shooting. Cartoon by @deAdder published on April 21, 2020. #cdnpoli #nspoli #MCC

15

30

116

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Based on the mass email I just received from SMU, it appears that we've entered the "we're poor" and "you bums are already overpaid" stage of contract negotiations. Last year, the two VPs who signed the email got paid a total of $411,114. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #highered @SMUFacultyUnion

14

29

91

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

New political cartoon by @deAdder highlighting the absence of a second amendment right to possess guns in Canadian constitutional law. #cdnlaw

12

26

85

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

On April 29 Conservative shadow minister for public safety MP Raquel Dancho spoke at the “Stick To Your Guns Dinner” held by a gun lobby group, the Canadian Shooting Sports Association. In doing so, she said there are “rights” to own firearms in Canada #cdnpoli A🧵1/

61

57

80

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

A tactic long used to dismiss gun control advocates (particularly women) is that they are being "emotional." In 1977 the Ottawa Citizen highlighted this tactic with this political cartoon. #cdnpoli @NAWL_ANFD

71

29

78

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

A peculiar thing about the gun control debate in Canada is that some people suggest the Liberal Party recently made up the term "assault-style rifle." In fact, it's been used in the media in the US and Canada for decades. Ex. story from Tampa Tribune, April 1990. #c21 #cdnpoli

93

30

72

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

2 months

The @Conservative_BC Party has nominated a former leader of the National Firearms Association as a candidate. People may remember him responding to federal gun laws by talking about bringing back the guillotine. See @globalnews article #cdnpoli #guncontrol

22

73

74

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

The non-partisan @NSMassCasualty Commission undertook the most ambitious, thorough, and open study of a mass shooting in Canadian history. It makes several important recommendations about firearms. See my latest article in @ConversationCA #MCC #cdnpoli

Nova Scotia’s Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws

The Mass Casualty Commission into the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in 2020 makes several recommendations to meaningfully change Canada’s gun laws.

theconversation.com

49

28

64

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Some Twitter commentators seem to think the Mass Casualty Commission was only supposed to make recommendations that would have stopped the 2020 NS mass shooting. However, the Commission was asked to make recommendations “to avoid such tragic events in the future.” #MCC #cdnpoli

38

22

62

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

In 1977 Ottawa made the AR-15 a restricted weapon. Such guns had recently entered the Canadian market and MP Yvon Pinard explained the government’s view that “the AR-15 has no legitimate sporting use and is closely modelled along military lines.” #cdnpoli #c21 #cdnhist

95

18

57

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

@mattgurney Hey @mattgurney : The Liberals didn't make the AR-15 a restricted weapon in the 1990s. The Progressive Conservatives classified the AR-15 as a restricted weapon with Restricted Weapons Order, PC 1992-1670 (16 July 1992).

3

22

61

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Rejoining Twitter (just as everyone else leaves!). I took a break from Twitter due to online harassment I received for posting about firearm violence and the history of gun control.

56

6

60

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

+1/ The Conservative have repeatedly said they are not filibustering #BillC21 , but Ms. Dancho told the Canadian Shooting Sports Association how the Conservatives had tried to stop the bill: “we filibustered and we filibustered.” (at 19:30). ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

14

42

58

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

"Nova Scotia's Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws" via @YahooNews #cdnpoli #MCC #guncontrol

Nova Scotia's Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws

The final report of the Mass Casualty Commission investigating the April 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia that left 22 people dead makes several recommendations to meaningfully change Canada’s gun...

ca.news.yahoo.com

29

36

59

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ex #1 : Runkle says @Polysesouvient has a financial interest in lobbying. He dismisses Montreal Massacre survivor Nathalie Provost by saying she doesn’t have a job except being a lobbyist. (She actually has 2 engineering degrees and well-established career.) #cdnpoli 2/

44

8

58

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ex #2 : Runkle repeatedly dismisses gun control advocates as offering only emotional arguments. This allegation has historically been been used to dismiss gun control advocates, particularly female proponents of gun control. 3/

34

9

52

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

“Nova Scotia’s Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws” in @OHSCanada . #MCC #cdnpoli

Nova Scotia’s Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws - OHS Canada Magazine

By R. Blake Brown, Saint Mary’s University The final report of the Mass Casualty Commission investigating the April 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia

www.ohscanada.com

28

19

51

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Canadian courts have consistently ruled against litigants claiming a right to firearms. I’ve explored that in long form here: “Firearm ‘Rights’ in Canada: Law and History in the Debates over Gun Control” in the Canadian Journal of Law & Society. 6/

Firearm “Rights” in Canada: Law and History in the Debates over Gun Control | Canadian Journal of...

Firearm “Rights” in Canada: Law and History in the Debates over Gun Control - Volume 32 Issue 1

www.cambridge.org

7

22

51

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

"New assault firearms are being sold amid Bill C-21 debate: gun-control advocates" by @ReneBruemmer in @mtlgazette #BillC21 #C21 #cdnpoli

New assault firearms are being sold amid Bill C-21 debate: gun-control advocates

montrealgazette.com

169

24

48

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

I've started new research on how the gun industry marketed firearms to Canadian police in the 1990s. Gun makers wanted police to replace revolvers with semi-automatic handguns. Ex: Here is a 1994 Beretta ad for its 'tactical' firearms aimed at law enforcement. 1/

20

18

47

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

8 months

Conservatives at @cpc_hq convention are proposing changes to firearm policies. Ex: the party suggests amending the law so that a "administrative licence expiry" will not "lead to criminal charges or the seizure of a licence holder's firearm(s)." #cdnpoli

59

13

48

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Many SMU profs spent Saturday with prospective students at an open house. They did this on top of teaching, research & admin duties to make SMU great. I hope SMU will recognize hard work and accept @SMUFacultyUnion ’s request for a modest cost of living increase to avoid a strike.

0

10

47

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Police haven't disclosed the model of semi-automatic handgun used in the Vaughan mass shooting or how the gun was acquired. An interesting research paper would track and explain historic trends in Canada regarding if, when, and why police release this info to the public. #cdpoli

17

45

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

I'm hearing the claim that Canadian law should only dictate who can have a firearm, not what kind of gun. However even PM Harper said in 2012 that “Prohibited weapons exist as a category under the law for essential reasons of public security." #cdnpoli See

25

17

44

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Please don’t tell me that only gun control advocates used terms like “assault-style rifles” or “military-style firearms.” For ex, the current head of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights described in 2013 how he got interested in “military-style firearms.” #cdnpoli #BillC21

17

14

42

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Two brothers armed with legally-purchased SKS rifles shot 6 police in a gunfight at a BC bank in 2022. They were angry about gun control and planned to kill police. #cdnpoli #BillC21 #c 5/

Brothers, motivated by 'anti-authority beliefs,' staged Saanich bank robbery in effort to kill...

Police said Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie, both 22, had a goal to get into a shootout with police when they went into the Bank of Montreal branch in Saanich, B.C., last June.

www.cbc.ca

19

14

42

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ex #3 : In this clip, Runkle suggests that he could say that @Polysesouvient spokesperson Heidi Rathjen might be “too stupid” to be an expert witness. “Maybe she’s just too clueless.” #billC21 #c21 #cdnpoli 4/

28

7

42

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ex #3 : Runkle accuses Ms. Rathjen of wanting to “ban every gun that exists. You want to ban every single firearm that exists and you’re not being honest about it.” To my knowledge, Ms. Rathjen has never said she wants all guns banned in her more than 30 years of advocacy. 5/

33

6

40

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

In high profile Halifax trial, William Sandeson admits he killed fellow Dal student Taylor Samson in 2015. Sandeson didn't know anyone selling guns illegally, so acquired a firearms licence and legally purchased a handgun. #cdnpoli #BillC21 #C21 See:

36

26

40

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Gun dealer and President of Atlantic Marksmen Association, Sean Hansen, pleads guilty to importing overcapacity gun magazines. See story by @tophlambie in @SaltWireNetwork : "NS gun dealer fined for importing overcapacity magazines" #cdnpoli

N.S. gun dealer fined for importing overcapacity magazines: 'If he doesn’t abide by the law, I...

A judge turned down a Halifax gun dealer’s request Thursday for a conditional discharge for importing overcapacity magazines and fined him $5,000. Sean ...

www.saltwire.com

20

25

40

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

In 2017, a man murdered Constable John Davidson, 53, with an SKS rifle in a parking lot in British Columbia. The perpetrator had apparently said: "I'll show you what I have in store for the police." 2/ #BillC21 #C21 #cdnpoli See:

14

8

38

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

2 months

This chart produced by the The Gun Blog shows the substantial spike in imports of semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 into Canada since the 1990s. This trend helps explain the decision of the federal government to prohibit some models of these weapons. #cdnpoli #guncontrol

86

19

40

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

My first time visiting the @UN headquarters in NY. Always wanted to see the Non-Violence sculpture on the UN grounds. Created by Carl Frederk Reuterswmade after his friend John Lennon was murdered. See:

4

5

39

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

3 months

Is the prominent gun account TheGunBlog run by Nicolas Johnson () encouraging Canadians to break the law by acquiring firearms without getting a gun license? #cdnpoli

42

27

38

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ms. Dancho said that “you have a lot of really hard-working Conservatives working hard every day to protect your rights to own firearms.” (at 3:34) You can watch Ms. Dancho’s entire speech to the Canadian Sport Shooting Association here: 2/

5

13

37

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

NDP MPs claiming they aren’t thinking about the politics of their opposition to the assault-style rifle ban is difficult to believe. It’s likely that they believe that their opposition to #Billc21 amendments will boost @NDP hopes of winning a few more rural seats. #c21 #cdnpoli

Peter Julian

@MPJulian

1 year

#Conservatives milked money in fundraising from farmers, hunters & rural communities 2 “stop” the amendment…& then took no action in the House. #ndp did all the heavy lifting in House working with indigenous peoples & rural communities & forced the withdrawal of the amendment.

151

31

102

25

14

37

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

In 2022, 2 police officers were killed inside an Innisfil residence by a man armed with an SKS rifle. Constables Devon Northrup, 33, and Morgan Russell, 54, died after arriving at the home to respond to a domestic disturbance call. 4/ #cdnpoli #C21 See:

7

13

34

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

10 months

We now know the Vaughan mass shooter was a legal gun owner. Did anyone raise flags about his gun ownership? His Facebook posts demonstrated he wasn’t well and he had seriously harassed people at his condo building. How did he still have a handgun?

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

10 months

The Ontario SIU Report for the Dec. 2022 mass shooting at a Vaughan, Ontario condo confirms that the gunman, 73-year-old Francesco Villi, used a Beretta Model 92A1 semi-automatic handgun he had legally purchased in 2019 to kill 5 people. #C21 #BIllC21 See:

6

7

4

25

15

34

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

In 2018, a man possessing an SKS killed 4 people, including two Fredericton police: Lawrence Robert Costello, 45, and Sara Burns, 43. 3/ #cdnpoli #BillC21 #c21 See:

13

8

33

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

3 months

This is a ridiculous and irresponsible claim. #cdnpoli #guncontrol

36

10

35

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Is Matt Gurney claiming that the Liberal Party of Canada invented the term "assault-style" firearm? That would be... wrong.

44

15

32

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

In the past Conservatives have avoided referring to “rights” to own firearms. A deviation occurred in 2014 when Minister of Public Safety Steven Blaney said that “To possess a firearm is a right, and it's a right that comes with responsibilities." 5/

Why Minister Blaney's wrong about gun ownership 'rights'

For its latest 'Baloney Meter,' The Canadian Press put Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney's statement, 'To possess a firearm is a right, and it's a right that comes with responsibilities' to the...

www.ctvnews.ca

3

13

31

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

@Scribulatora The Mass Casualty Commission recommended more higher education training for police, not less.

0

9

32

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ms. Dancho then said it was so important that Canada get a Conservative government for several reasons including “to protect firearm ownership rights.” (at 5:50) #cdnpoli 3/

4

12

31

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

“‘This is our last fight:’ Why shooting survivors say now is a pivotal moment for tougher gun control laws in Canada” by @mussettb in the @TorontoStar . #cdnpoli #C21 #BillC21 #MCC

‘This is our last fight:’ Why shooting survivors say now is a pivotal moment for tougher gun...

A gun rights organization says Canadians’ rights are under attack, survivors of the Polytechnique shooting say lives can be saved. Both want Ottawa to hear them out.

www.thestar.com

34

11

31

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

A shorter discussion of efforts of claim a “right” to firearms can be found here: “The ‘Right’ to Bear Arms in Canada” on @ActiveHist /7

2

13

30

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

I see more rhetoric suggesting that Ottawa wants to ban all guns. This is an old technique used to motivate diverse parts of the gun community to oppose firearms legislation. See "Guns and Conspiracy Theories in Canada" in @ActiveHist #cdnpoli #BillC21

Guns and Conspiracy Theories in Canada

The internet and social media now allow conspiracy theories to be disseminated more widely and quickly. That has changed. What hasn’t changed is the willingness of the leaders of some gun groups to…

activehistory.ca

51

15

28

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

9 months

Important Bloomberg story on how US gun industry drives sale of semi-auto guns internationally. Authors say US industry, "through its political allies, has managed to weaken gun-control laws and seed pro-gun advocacy in other countries." #guncontrol

How America Drives Gun Exports and Fuels Violence Around the World

No company has benefited more from the US government’s push to boost overseas sales than Sig Sauer Inc.

www.bloomberg.com

15

22

29

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

5 months

There is reporting that Ottawa will prohibit magazines that can be altered to hold more than the legal limit of ammunition. Some groups are acting surprised. Geez people, this was literally part of the 2021 Liberal election platform. See p.62 of #cdnpoli

32

8

29

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Runkle also comments on the testimony of Boufeldja Benebdallah, the pres. of Quebec's Islamic Cultural Centre (attacked in 2017). Runkle claims there is “irony” in his appearance because the Montreal Massacre shooter was motivated by his dad’s “ideology” (his dad was Muslim) 6/

9

2

28

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ms. Dancho also complained about people she met as a university student in Montreal “who didn't believe in my right to own a firearm.” (at 7:28) #cdnpoli

2

10

27

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

9 months

Want to know more about how Canada got its system of regulating assault-style rifles? New law journal article dropping soon… will be open access. #cdnpoli #c21 #BillC21 #guncontrol

19

11

27

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

9 months

Ontario Appeal Court finds against gun owners claiming letters from RCMP/Firearms Registrar about 2020 firearm reclassification constituted a notice of revocation of registration certificates that allowed them to apply for s.74 hearings under Firearms Act

5

16

26

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Will the Liberals revise and resubmit their pulled amendments to the new gun control bill ( #BillC21 )? In a @TorontoStar op-ed, Dr. @najmadoc of @Docs4GunControl argues they should. "Do we have the political will to prevent mass shootings?" #cdnpoli #C21

Do we have the political will to prevent mass shootings?

Today, I am left to wonder if politics in Canada trumps public safety, science, and decency.

www.thestar.com

67

11

25

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

"Doctors call for assault-weapons ban to be permanent" #cdnpoli #c21 via @ptboexaminer

Doctors call for assault-weapons ban to be permanent

The evidence is clear; so is the devastation, Najma Ahmed, John Kortbeek and Murray Trusler write

www.stcatharinesstandard.ca

172

8

22

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Faculty at @smuhalifax have been unionized since 1974 but never gone on strike. That may change this year. See "I am a SMU employee, parent, and alum–and I’m proudly prepared to strike" in @HfxExaminer by Dr. @cathyconrad , VP of @SMUFacultyUnion #highered

I am a SMU employee, parent, and alum – and I’m proudly prepared to strike - Halifax Examiner

I have worked at Saint Mary’s University (SMU) for almost 25 years. I am vice-president of SMUFU – the union of full-time faculty and librarians. I was a SMU undergraduate. And now, two of my...

www.halifaxexaminer.ca

0

9

24

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

I’m consistently surprised at the level of vitriol that is stirred by pointing out what strike me as fairly mundane historical facts.

8

3

24

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

5 months

Today, Canadian police generally refuse to release any info about the firearms used in shootings. That wasn't always the case. Thirty-four years ago, @CanadianPress reported on the gun used by the #MontrealMassacre shooter almost immediately. Source: Waterloo Record, 8 Dec. 1989.

7

16

23

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

3 months

I’m finishing some research on how semi-automatic rifles became standard policing equipment in Canada. Part of this history is the effort of the firearms industry to market these guns to police. All ads in 🧵from Blue Line, a popular magazine aimed at Canadian police. 1/

58

5

23

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

In the United States, police are generally pretty quick to identify the models of guns used in mass shootings. So, why is Canada different and why have Canadian police seemingly become more reluctant over time to disclose info on firearms?

11

9

20

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

It is largely forgotten today that historically some gun owners and retailers referred to semi-automatic rifles as 'automatic rifles'. Here, for ex, is a 1972 advertisement from Ontario describing the Winchester Model 100 as an 'automatic rifle.' #cdnpoli

102

7

22

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

11 months

The US has roughly 10 times the population of Canada but 100 times more handguns. This suggests to me that the long history of gun control laws in Canada have made a difference.

Calibre

@Calibremag

11 months

And in 2032, with over a hundred years' worth of ever-expanding gun control in its past, there will *still* be Canadians that try and claim that Canada needs more. What do you call someone that keeps trying the same thing and expecting a different result?

4

5

79

26

4

22

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

6 months

"Federal Court upholds Liberals’ assault weapons ban" by @glen_mcgregor in @iPoliticsCA #cdnpoli #BillC21 #C21 #guncontrol

Federal Court upholds Liberals’ assault weapons ban

In a lengthy ruling released Monday, Justice Catherine Kane said that the Trudeau cabinet did not overstep by changing the legal status of a long list of firearms to prohibited status in 2020.

www.ipolitics.ca

5

11

22

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

This is disappointing. Faculty lack a collective agreement and profs may strike for the first time in SMU's history. Formal grievances are piling up. The university hasn't replaced its expired Strategic Plan. Time to move forward collaboratively and get stuff done. #highered

SMUFU

@SMUFacultyUnion

1 year

While we are working hard to reach a fair agreement, we have learned that key members of the Senior Administration have left the province. SMU is on the eve of its first ever strike - are we the only ones taking this seriously? #SMUStrike #StandWithSMUFU

4

22

64

1

3

21

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

You can watch Runkle’s entire video commentary on the #SECU testimony here: 7/

15

1

20

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

8 months

A @CPC_HQ party policy is to "streamline Firearms classification" using a "simplified classification system." I previously discussed this. See "O’Toole’s regressive plan to appease gun lobby by weakening restrictions on assault-style rifles" #cdnpoli

19

18

21

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

11 months

The new gun control bill ( #C21 ) will legislatively stop the sale of handguns. This is the latest effort to limit handgun access. In 1924 the Halifax Evening Mail complained "we make the purchase of an automatic pistol as easy as the purchase of a bar or soap or a pound of tea."

78

9

21

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

5 months

This is good news. The latest gun control bill ( #BillC21 ) was supported by the Liberals, Bloc, NDP and Green parties in the House of Commons. Conservative senators have been delaying passage for some time #c21 #cdnpoli #guncontrol

Tracey Wilson

@TWilsonOttawa

5 months

Yesterday in the @SenateCA , Marc Gold gave notice of time allocation, to clamp down on debate on C-21 to a maximum of 6 hours. Same tool used by Liberals in the House to limit debate. 🇨🇦 #ScrapC21

25

116

373

35

10

21

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

New in @TheHillTimes : "Liberal about-turn on Bill C-21 marks failure of historically significant gun control reform" #cdnpoli #cdnhist #c21 #BillC21

Liberal about-turn on Bill C-21 marks failure of historically significant gun control reform

The amendments would have prohibited many semi-automatic weapons capable of carrying large amounts of ammunition by introducing a new 'evergreen' firearm classification system.

www.hilltimes.com

38

8

21

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

3 months

"Two accused in Alberta border blockade case plead guilty." Jerry Morin admits to conspiracy to traffic firearms. Chris Lysak guilty of possession of a weapon in an unauthorized place. Both get custody and weapons prohibitions for 10 years. #cdnpoli

Two men charged in Coutts border blockade plead guilty to lesser charges

Both Jerry Morin and Christopher Lysak’s jail sentences have been satisfied by time served in remand

www.theglobeandmail.com

2

9

20

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Ummmm… what?

Tim Bousquet

@Tim_Bousquet

1 year

The RCMP seized a bunch of guns in Cole Harbour. But also: "grenades"

30

38

137

3

12

20

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Thirty-one women’s and feminist organizations from across Canada issue open letter calling on Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau to ban assault-style firearms in Canada. #cdnpoli #billc21 #c21 #guncontrol

Open Letter: #Women4GunControl call for a federal ban on assault-style firearms | National Associ...

To: Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Yves-François Blanchet, Jagmeet Singh, Elizabeth May CC: Ron McKinnon, Raquel Dancho, Kristina Michaud, Paul Chiang, Pam Damoff, Iqwinder Gaheer, Peter Julian,...

nawl.ca

97

11

20

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

8 months

Important reporting in @Bloomberg : "NRA-Style Politics Transformed Canada’s Gun Culture." Authors @natalieobiko , David Kocieniewski and @ericfan_journo note the massive increase in imports of semi-automatic firearms into Canada. #cdnpoli #BillC21 #C21

NRA-Style Politics Transformed Canada’s Gun Culture — and Shootings Rose 869%

A third of guns used in Canadian crimes and then traced by authorities were legally imported from the US. That’s three times the global average.

www.bloomberg.com

7

14

18

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

11 months

“Liberal gun control legislation passes House of Commons” by @rachaiello via @CTVNews #cdnpoli #GunControl #BillC21 #C21

Liberal gun control legislation passes House of Commons

The federal Liberal government's gun control legislation Bill C-21 passed the House of Commons on Thursday. While the majority of MPs voted to see the bill pass into the Senate, two Liberal MPs who...

www.ctvnews.ca

10

5

16

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

5 months

“Pass federal gun bill without delay, father of Ontario shooting victim urges senators” by @JimBronskill in @TorontoStar . #cdnpoli #guncontrol #c21 #Billc21

Pass gun bill, father of Ontario shooting victim urges on Polytechnique anniversary

MONTREAL - Thirty-four years after a gunman massacred 14 women at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, the father of a woman who was fatally shot by her former partner called on senators

www.thestar.com

1

12

18

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

8 months

New article: "A Legal History of the Regulation of Assault-Style Rifles in Canada" in the Dalhousie Law Journal. This article is open-access and can be downloaded. #cdnpoli #guncontrol See:

A Legal History of the Regulation of Assault-Style Rifles in Canada

This article provides the first legal history of the regulation of “assault-style” weapons in Canada. A contentious part of Canada’s gun control regime is the firearms classification system that...

digitalcommons.schulichlaw.dal.ca

0

10

18

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 month

March 30 is the 1st anniversary of the Mass Casualty Commission's Final Report. What gun policy recommendations have been implemented? See my latest "NS Mass Casualty Commission a year later" via @ConversationCA #cdnpoli #guncontrol #BillC21

N.S. Mass Casualty Commission a year later: What recommendations have been implemented?

Over the past year, Ottawa has had a mixed record in implementing the Mass Casualty Commission’s firearm recommendations. Some provinces, however, have sought to limit implementation.

theconversation.com

30

12

17

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

2 months

Forgotten Weapons says Pearce Armory SK-X rifle designed for Canadian market to take advantage of legal "loophole". Goal: to sell non-restricted semi-auto SKS rifles using detachable magazines to "fill a gap" created by banning of guns like AR-15 #cdnpoli

Pearce Armory SK-X

null

www.youtube.com

51

10

15

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

28 days

Thanks to @SaltWireNews for republishing my latest @ConversationCA article in its print edition today. #cdnpoli #guncontrol #MCC

9

7

16

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

4 months

“Liberal gun control bill passes Senate, poised to become law” via @CTVNews #BillC21 #C21 #cdnpoli #guncontrol

Liberal gun control bill passes Senate, becomes law

The federal Liberal government's contentious gun control legislation Bill C-21 passed the Senate without changes on Thursday, becoming law on Friday.

www.ctvnews.ca

16

3

16

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

New article: "Canada Risks Following the Path of the U.S. on Gun Violence" by Dr. @annajdare , Dr. @najmadoc , and Christopher Holcroft in @TIME #cdnpoli #BillC21 #C21

Canada Risks Following the Path of the U.S. on Gun Violence

Canada must become a role model of gun control action for the U.S., not surpass it.

time.com

84

6

15

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

The National Association of Women & the Law ( @NAWL_ANFD ) is speaking out in favour of the federal government’s new gun control legislation, #Billc21 #c21 #cdnpoli

National Association of Women and the Law

@NAWL_ANFD

1 year

Gun control is a feminist issue! Participate in our #Women4GunControl campaign today. Le contrôle des armes à feu est un enjeu féministe ! Participez à notre campagne #FemmesContreLesViolencesArm ées dès aujourd’hui.

0

22

24

13

9

16

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

“Gun advocates’ changing definition of ‘assault rifles’ is meant to sow confusion” in @globeandmail #cdnpoli #c21 #BillC21

Opinion: Gun advocates’ changing definition of ‘assault rifles’ is meant to sow confusion - The...

The adoption of a narrower definition of assault rifles occurred soon after the murder of 14 young women at the École Polytechnique

www.theglobeandmail.com

5

3

12

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

5 months

New gun control bill going to final vote.

Senate of Canada

@SenateCA

5 months

Vote result on Senator @DonPlett 's amendment to Bill #C21 : Yeas: 19 ✔️ Nays : 66 ❌ Abstentions : 1 #SenCA #CdnPoli

90

22

62

20

3

15

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

3 months

The Desmond Fatality Inquiry in NS that investigated why a former soldier killed 3 family members and himself in 2017 with a legally purchased SKS rifle has recommended several steps to strengthen firearm licensing processes. See #cdnpoli #guncontrol #LAGO

9

10

15

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

Beretta (and other gun makers including Ruger) seemed to see a marketing edge in blurring the distinction between weapons of war and weapons for policing. They frequently employed the word ‘tactical’ in describing their guns for police, which hinted at military uses. 2/

6

4

15

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

The @NDP seems to have bet that it could force the Liberals to water down the new gun control bill ( #BillC21 ) at committee stage to please its rural voters while claiming to be above politics. The payoff? Criticism from groups for and against gun control. #cdnpoli

10

5

14

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

"Nova Scotia’s Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws" in @PolicingInsight #cdnpoli #guncontrol #C21 #BillC21

Nova Scotia’s Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws

The Mass Casualty Commission into the April 2020 Nova Scotia shootings that left 22 people dead has made a range of recommendations around tighter gun control, particularly of the most powerful and…

policinginsight.com

11

14

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

2 months

The comments led to the censure of the National Firearms Association by a House of Commons committee. The committee unanimously passed a motion condemning the association’s response (the four Conservative members abstained). #cdnpoli See

Commons committee censures firearms association over inflammatory comments

OTTAWA - The National Firearms Association has been censured by a House of Commons committee for inflammatory ...

ckpgtoday.ca

0

4

14

Blake Brown

@RBlakeBrown

1 year

“Nova Scotia's Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws” in @nationalpost . #MCC #cdnpoli

Nova Scotia's Mass Casualty Commission calls for stricter gun control laws

nationalpost.com

13

12

14