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By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Changes to gun and drug laws — Symbolic? Practical? Both? Neither?

Jun 3, 2022 | 11:08 AM

WE’VE SEEN A COUPLE OF FAIRLY MAJOR MOVES by our federal government in the past week meant to address health and safety for Canadians.

The Trudeau Liberals have announced an impending freeze on the sale, transfer and import of handguns. If you have one, you have one. If you don’t, you’re not getting one. At least, that seems to be the intent.

The government also announced as of next January, British Columbians will not be arrested and prosecuted for possessing small, personal amounts of drugs of abuse.

As a means to decreasing gun violence, the bans surrounding handguns are largely symbolic.

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The likelihood that these changes will have any impact whatsoever on gun crime is extremely remote.

Instead, it will mostly impact folks like the ones taking part in the target shooting competition taking place in Kamloops this weekend.

Those who use guns for acts of violence have other pipelines from which to glean their firearms.

This freeze is a symbol of our society’s effort to end gun violence — but little more.

The exemption from criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of drugs in B.C. is symbolic, too, but in a much more practical way, if that makes sense.

It’s long been held that shame, stigma and criminalization are barriers that prevent people who use drugs from finding pathways toward safer, healthier lives.

Removing the criminality of drug use is a big signal of what our society thinks of those who use drugs.

Drug use being illegal likely prevents very few people who want to use drugs from actually doing it. However, the illegality may prevent people from talking about it, from using in the presence of others — or even from seeking help.

No one wants to admit to a crime.

Removing criminality may be a symbol, but it’s a symbol that could lead to a real net positive for our society.

Two significant shifts in our laws, two symbols of where the government would like to see our society headed, but one much more impactful than the other.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.