Laws that work

Since Canada passed its newest gun control laws, murder rates of women have dropped about 75%. Their new law requires that domestic partners be given a say in whether or not someone receives a permit to own or use a gun. This information was clipped from the Canada Firearms Centre's website, http://www.cfc-cafc.g...:

"Background Safety Checks
In almost all cases, you will need to have a Firearms Act licence (or valid FAC) by December 31, 2000 to have or use guns in Canada. (People who use guns under someone else's direct supervision do not need a licence.)

When you apply for a licence, your background will be checked for certain criminal convictions and incidents of violent behaviour. The goal behind conducting this check is to reduce the risk of firearms related incidents, including domestic violence and suicides.

The violent behaviour that will raise concerns is not limited to the use of guns. It may be any type of violence, threatened violence or attempted violence against others or yourself.

If the initial screening reveals criminal convictions or a history of violence, a firearms officer may conduct a further investigation. This investigation may include interviews with your friends, neighbours, persons with whom you live or work, community leaders or social workers.

The information gained from the investigation will help to determine whether to:

issue a licence,
issue a licence with conditions restricting your possession or use of firearms; or
refuse to issue a licence.
In order to issue you a licence, the firearms officer needs to be reasonably satisfied that you are not a risk to yourself or others.

Spousal Notification
In addition to the background safety checks described above, a spouse or common-law partner that you live with, and spouses or common-law partners that you lived with in the last two years, must be notified that you are applying for a licence to acquire firearms.

Schedules 1 and 2 which are attached to the Possession and Acquisition Licence application form (Form CAFC 1039) serve this purpose. These forms may be signed by your current or former spouse or partner indicating that they know about your licence application. The section where the spouse or partner signs contains a statement telling them that they may contact the Chief Firearms Officer to raise any safety concerns that they may have with your application. If they do not sign the form, they will be notified of your application and asked if they have any safety concerns."