Twenty-one years ago today, 14 women were murdered at L'École Polytechnique in Montreal. They were murdered by a 25 year old man, Marc Lépine.
On the anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre, vigils and ceremonies are held across Canada to mark this day, which was designated a National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Violence Against Women by the Parliament of Canada in 1991.
This year representatives of the opposition parties (the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the NDP) gathered on Parliament Hill to mark the December 6th anniversary and the day of remembrance. Among those present was Heidi Rathjen, a survivor of the École Polytechnique massacre. Rathjen is a member of Polytechnique Students and Graduates for Gun Control, a group which advocates for gun control in Canada, in particular the maintenance of the long-gun registry.
Earlier this year, the Conservative Party attempted to scrap the long-gun registry. I recall holding my breath as I waited for news about the final vote in the House of Commons. The long-gun registry survived, but the vote was too close for comfort (153 to 151) and, following the vote, Prime Minister Stephen Harper "vowed to keep up his party’s effort to kill the registry, which he has denounced as a costly and ineffective." [1] Like many others, I remain appalled that the Conservatives and our Prime Minister are determined to scrap the registry, despite the fact that everyone from victims of violence to police have proclaimed the importance and usefulness of the registry.
Today, I call on the Conservatives and Prime Minister Harper to cease their attack on the long-gun registry and to preserve this important tool in the fight against gun violence.
For more information, please read the following article:
Anniversary prompts criticism of Tory gun policy
[1] Long-gun registry survives tight Commons vote
On the anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre, vigils and ceremonies are held across Canada to mark this day, which was designated a National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Violence Against Women by the Parliament of Canada in 1991.
This year representatives of the opposition parties (the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the NDP) gathered on Parliament Hill to mark the December 6th anniversary and the day of remembrance. Among those present was Heidi Rathjen, a survivor of the École Polytechnique massacre. Rathjen is a member of Polytechnique Students and Graduates for Gun Control, a group which advocates for gun control in Canada, in particular the maintenance of the long-gun registry.
Earlier this year, the Conservative Party attempted to scrap the long-gun registry. I recall holding my breath as I waited for news about the final vote in the House of Commons. The long-gun registry survived, but the vote was too close for comfort (153 to 151) and, following the vote, Prime Minister Stephen Harper "vowed to keep up his party’s effort to kill the registry, which he has denounced as a costly and ineffective." [1] Like many others, I remain appalled that the Conservatives and our Prime Minister are determined to scrap the registry, despite the fact that everyone from victims of violence to police have proclaimed the importance and usefulness of the registry.
Today, I call on the Conservatives and Prime Minister Harper to cease their attack on the long-gun registry and to preserve this important tool in the fight against gun violence.
For more information, please read the following article:
Anniversary prompts criticism of Tory gun policy
[1] Long-gun registry survives tight Commons vote
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